Bart Stupak

Written by: Mary R on Mar 17, 2010 4:57 PM EDT

Last October, House Democrat Bart Stupak forced an amendment into the original House healthcare bill that banned even private for-profit insurers from covering abortion as a part of women's reproductive healthcare.

This dramatically expanded the ban on federal funding of abortion services and could have sent America back to an era of coat hangers and back alley abortions. Fortunately, pro-choice leaders in the Senate stripped it from making it into the final bill.

Now, Rep. Bart Stupak is at it again.

He claims to have put together the "Stupak Block" of about 10 House Democrats who will vote against the reconciliation bill if his Medieval Roll-Back isn't re-inserted before the final vote.

The good news is we can send a message to the so-called "Stupak Block" today. A Democrat and Michigan's former Charlevoix County Commissioner, Connie Saltonstall, has announced she is running against Rep. Bart Stupak in the Democratic primary to represent MI-01.

Should Democracy for America members support this primary challenge?

CAST YOUR VOTE NOW

You know primaries matter.

When Rep. Donna Edwards stood up to run against Bush-Democrat Al Wynn in 2006, DFA was there to back her up. And when she barely lost and decided to go for the re-match in 2008, DFA members led the way again. Locally, DFA members were staff on the campaign and volunteer boots on the ground. Nationally, we delivered the money and media that helped fuel the campaign. Working together, DFA members made an impact and helped deliver victory on Election Day.

But we don't just jump into a primary race without the overwhelming support of members making it clear exactly where the DFA community stands. That's why we're asking for your vote today.

Connie Saltonstall grew up in the district, going to Charlevoix High School and the University of Michigan. She even taught fourth grade in the Charlevoix Schools before she was elected to the Charlevoix Board of Education in 1978. She was appointed to the Michigan Association of School Boards Taxation Committee and recently completed a three-year term on the Charlevoix County Commission. Currently, she is a mediator and board member with Northern Community Mediation and serves as board president of Hospice of Northwest Michigan.

Connie is a Democrat. She's pro-choice. And she wouldn't block healthcare reform for the people in her district just to please her personal special interests. Here's what she had to say about Bart Stupak when she announced:

"Michigan and the First District are facing enormous challenges and we cannot afford to sacrifice solutions for individual agendas. Stupak is co-chair of the Pro-Life Caucus and is putting their interests above those of his district. No federal funds have been used for abortions since 1977, and that provision will stay in effect without his amendment. In my opinion, Bart Stupak has shown that he is willing to block important legislation to support his own agenda at the expense of those he was elected to represent."

Democracy for America members could have a big impact on this campaign, but the decision is up to you.

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