The recent work on health care reform has added a new spark to the abortion debate. A woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy is perhaps an issue that will never be in danger of burning out because if there is one thing everyone can agree on, it is that everyone cares deeply about the issue. The recent debate is about whether and how a woman should be able to access this constitutionally protected health care procedure. The House recently sent the Senate a health care reform bill that would not only prevent the public option from offering abortion coverage, but also prevent women receiving federal credits or subsidies from purchasing an insurance plan that offers abortion coverage. Instead, Congress suggests that women should purchase a separate abortion rider for their insurance. But when you really stop to think about it, the Stupak-Pitts amendment does much more than prevent federal dollars from being used for abortion coverage, it actually discourages insurance companies from offering abortion coverage since it could prevent women receiving federal subsidies from choosing insurance plans that cover abortion, costing the companies business. Recently, one congressional staff-person suggested that the Congressperson voted for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment on the House floor because it is essential that federal dollars not be spent on abortion because some tax payers dislike abortion. Of all the arguments in favor of the amendment, this is perhaps the worst. There are many tax-paying Americans who object to the death penalty and yet, federal tax dollars are still used to pay to prosecute defendants capitally and ultimately execute those convicted of capital offenses. On the flip side, there are those who object to the government paying so that a defendant can have a competent attorney, but tax-dollars pay for public defenders nonetheless. Rather than focusing on bringing more coverage to more people, the debate twisted into one about how to deny a woman a vital, safe, and constitutionally protected health care procedure. Hopefully the Senate will find a way to avoid this pitfall.