This vote was on an amendment by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that would stipulate that nothing in the underlying bill should be interpreted as modifying or otherwise affecting current federal law with respect to funding for abortion services.  The amendment was offered to the bill that funds the departments of Labor, Health and Education in fiscal 2008.

Reid made no statements about his amendment, and no one rose to speak against it.  However, this particular funding bill, because it includes the Department of Health and Human Services, often attracts abortion-related amendments from conservatives seeking to restrict or prevent federal funding from going to abortion or other related family planning activities.  Reid’s amendment, in essence, would counteract any of those efforts on this bill.

The Senate adopted Reid’s amendment by a vote of 68-25.  Every Democrat present voted for the amendment.  Of Republicans present, 23 voted for the amendment, and 25 voted against it.  Thus the bill went forward with language stipulating that nothing in the bill should be interpreted as changing or affecting current law on abortion funding.