About That Mile: Get Federal Housing Loan, Forget an Abortion?

Senator Harkin (D -Iowa) tells the Hawkeye, a local Iowa site, his concerns regarding Stupak-Pitts - and scares the bejeezus out of me:

"I think virtually everyone in Congress has said from the beginning the final bill should make clear that federal funding, federal funding cannot be used for abortion services except in limited cases," Harkin said. "I fear that the House-passed language goes beyond that and will effectively prevent women from receiving abortion coverage under the new health exchanges, even if they're using their own money to buy insurance."

He said the Senate definitely will address the issue before the legislation goes to the floor, which could be as early as next week.

"I think ... keeping the status quo is the best thing we can do," Harkin said. "I see no reason to change it at this point in time."

Harkin sees the so-called Stupak amendment -- the new abortion language was introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich. -- as a slippery slope to prevent abortions of any kind.

Under the language, he said, it could be interpreted that insurers lose tax benefits if they provide health insurance that covers abortion services. It could also mean someone who receives a federal housing loan could not get an abortion.

Emphasis mine.

All the while, "pro-life" groups are complaining that Stupak-Pitts doesn't go far enough (prior post)?