House GOPer re-writes abortion language in bill

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/03/5983150-house-goper-re-writes-abortion-language-in-bill

From NBC's Shawna Thomas
In the last two weeks, there's been a slowly bubbling uproar over H.R. 3, legislation to prohibit taxpayer funding of abortions, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). The bill seeks to eliminate the need to keep passing the Hyde Amendment, the current language that bans the use of federal funds for abortion, by codifying the ban into permanent law.

The controversy: Multiple human rights groups have said the exception clause in the bill seems to redefine "rape" -- therefore making it more difficult, perhaps illegal, for women who are subject of rape or incest who rely on government funding for health care to obtain an abortion.

(snip)
Today, Smith's office confirmed it is rewriting the exception clause to match the language in the Hyde Amendment, which states:

SEC. 508. (a) The limitation established in the preceding section shall not apply to an abortion-
(1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or
(2) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed.