NBC News is reporting that Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak, the leader of twelve pro-life Democrats who have refused to support the final health care bill until their concerns were met, has decided to vote “yes” on the health care bill. Stupak was in negotiations with the White House and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, working out the details of an executive order that would achieve a result that came closer to Stupak’s approach to enshrining prohibitions on the use of federal funds for abortion in a manner reminiscent of the Hyde Amendment. Stay tuned.

Let me also take a moment to say a word about Stupak. A week or so ago, I ran a post commending him for his constancy, even though I disagreed with his reading of the bill. He is a true pro-life champion no matter how you slice it. Someone posted a comment suggesting that Stupak’s concerns on abortion were all a ruse to defeat health care. Whoever made such suggestions owes the congressman from Michigan an apology.

Michael Sean Winters