WASHINGTON — As abortion took center stage in the Senate's historic debate over health care reform, Sen. Barbara Boxer was right in the middle of the fight,
comparing an effort to limit women's access to abortion to restricting men's access to Viagra.
Her combative stance on the issue was a familiar one for the third-term Democrat, whose support of abortion rights has been central to her political career.
"Why are women being singled out here? It's so unfair," Boxer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. "We don't tell men that if they want to ... buy insurance coverage through their pharmaceutical plan for Viagra that they can't do it."
Boxer was weighing in against an amendment offered by Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would greatly restrict abortion services for women buying individual insurance through a new health care insurance exchange. Although the amendment was rejected in a 54-45 vote, it was not the last word on the issue.
Largely mirroring a provision passed by the House last month as part of its health care overhaul bill, Nelson's proposal would bar abortion coverage for anyone who receives taxpayer subsidies to buy health insurance. Those who pay for health insurance completely on their own would have to purchase a separate "rider" in order to have abortion services covered.
"This amendment would be the biggest rollback to a woman's right to choose in decades," Boxer said Monday. "What have women done to deserve
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