The focus has been on Congressman John Bocieri's (D-OH/16th) vote against the Health Care reform bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday night last.
But there is more to this story.
The story behind the story on the Boccieri vote is his earlier vote on the so called "Stupak amendment."
What is the Stupak amendment?
It is language that prohibits the federal government from funding abortions even if filtered through a private health insurance company health care plan except in the case of the life of the mother being in jeopardy, incest or rape.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed the bill to come to a vote so that "pro-life" Democrats could vote for the final health care reform bill. The strategy worked. Pro-life Democrats provided the margin of victory in the 220 to 215 vote.
But some Democrats were allowed to vote against the bill anyway in order to placate Republican oriented constituencies. One such Democrat? Stark County's John Boccieri.
Boccieri was one of 64 Democrats who voted for the Stupak amendment.
Okay.
So what is with the "C Street" stuff in the SCPR's presented graphic at the lead of this blog?
First, let yours truly (a la Richard Nixon) "make this perfectly clear:" It is most likely that Boccieri's voting for the Stupak amendment has nothing to do with Boccieri having any connection to Supak's (a Democrat from Michigan) association (he stays there when in Washington) with "The Family" with a house on "C Street" in the capitol.
However, one does have to ask the question.
The most likely explanation?
John Boccieri is a Roman Catholic.
It well known that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops is vehemently opposed to federal funding in any way, shape or form for abortions.
Apparently, Boccieri is a devout Roman Catholic and that his religion dictated his vote on the Stupak amendment.
No comments:
Post a Comment