After playing a central role in the bid to ensure that federal funding for abortion is removed from the Democrats' health care bill, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said in an interview on Friday that he is suddenly feeling left out.
"They're ignoring me," he told National Review Online in an interview "That's their strategy now. The House Democratic leaders think they have the votes to pass the Senate's health-care bill without us. At this point, there is no doubt that they've been able to peel off one or two of my twelve. And even if they don't have the votes, it's been made clear to us that they won't insert our language on the abortion issue."
The "us" Stupak is referring to, are twelve anti-abortion Democrats in the House (also known as the "Stupak dozen"), some of whom are now considering siding with the White House and Democratic congressional leaders to vote "yes" on the final health care package.
For his part, Stupak is not budging.
"I am a definite 'no' vote," he told National Review. "I didn't cave. The others are having both of their arms twisted."
Stupak acknowledged that that Democratic leaders have been successful in convincing "one or two" of his dozen to vote for the bill.