Representative Baldwin Votes to Fund Abortions

Wisconsin's Representative Tammy Baldwin is a member of the House Energy and Commerce committee, one of the committees considering health care legislation. In committee, Representative Bart Stupak of Michigan, who is a Democrat, offered an amendment to prohibit federal funding of abortions as part of health care reform. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 27-31. Ms. Baldwin voted against the amendment and to allow for federal funding of abortions. Here is the amendment:
Given her history and the area that she represents, her vote should come as a surprise to no one.

More interesting to me is that a Democrat who represents the Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Stupak) is willing and able to attach his name to an amendment explicitly prohibiting federal funding of abortions. Those of us here in Northeastern Wisconsin like to pick on our friends from up north, but the fact of the matter is that in many ways the UP and NEW are very similar.

It would seem for our own Congressman Kagen the choice couldn't be more stark on this issue. Remember this difference is between Democrats, not Democrats and Republican.

It remains to be seen if Kagen will side with Baldwin and allow for taxpayer funded abortions or if he will have the courage to side with Stupak and the very many of his constituents who find such a prospect abhorrent.