Gov. Bob McDonnell has amended a bill designed to create health insurance exchanges in Virginia to prohibit health insurance coverage from paying for abortions.
McDonnell and General Assembly Republicans already clamped down on first trimester abortion clinics in Virginia by directing the Board of Health to come up with new hospital style restrictions. But now it appears that McDonnell is pushing for another tough vote on social issues next Wednesday when lawmakers return for the veto session.
Here's the link to the vote on the original bill designed to start Virginia on the path to developing health insurance exchanges. The bill was totally uncontroversial before - passing on 37-1 and 95 -3, but you can bet on a much closer vote when the amendments come down.
Here's a link to McDonnell's amendments and here's the text:
; (ii) ensure that no qualified health insurance plan that is sold or offered for sale through an exchange established or operating in the Commonwealth shall provide coverage for abortions, regardless of whether such coverage is provided through the plan or is offered as a separate optional rider thereto; and (iii) the limitation set forth in (ii) shall not apply to an abortion performed (a) when the life of the mother is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or (b) when the pregnancy is the result of an alleged act of rape or incest
McDonnell also inserted a dig against the health care reform bill - which remains in question because of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's lawsuit. Here's that amendment:
3. That nothing in this act shall be construed or implied to recognize the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152).
4. That the provisions of this act constitute the election of the Commonwealth to prohibit abortion coverage in qualified health plans offered through an exchange in the Commonwealth as amended by ยง 1303(a)(1) of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152).
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