On a vote of 240 to 194, a bipartisan group of lawmakers pushed through a provision in the health care reform package that prohibits the government run insurance operation that it establishes from covering abortions.
The bill originally called for the government to decide if abortions would be covered and the change is considered a defeat for liberals.
The amendment by Bart Stupak, D-Mich., imposes tight restrictions on abortions that could be offered through a new public health insurance option and through private insurance purchased with government subsidies.