Obama will sign Stupak executive order on abortion Wednesday

President Barack Obama Wednesday will put his signature on an executive order regarding the new healthcare law that was part of a deal designed to encourage anti-abortion rights Democrats to back the bill. 

The provision states that the legislation will uphold existing prohibitions on federal funding for abortion services. The order was the result of a deal Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) struck with the White House Sunday only hours before a vote was taken on the Senate's healthcare overhaul.

Before that, Stupak and his bloc of anti-abortion rights Democrats withheld their support for the bill because they believed it would allow federal dollars to pay for health insurance plans that included abortion services.

Democratic leaders had maintained all along that the Senate bill would not let federal funds pay for abortion services. But they struck a deal with Stupak in order to corral the votes they needed and without Stupak's bloc, they did not have. By signing the order, Obama will uphold his end of that agreement.

Republicans decried the executive order, saying it lacked the teeth to ensure that the Hyde Amendment, a law that prohibits federal funds for abortions, is upheld.

The pro-abortion rights groups NARAL and NOW have decried the order because they say it is too restrictive. 

Unlike the healthcare bill signing that was held in front of a swath of lawmakers, television cameras and other media Tuesday, the order signing is closed to the press. But 14 anti-abortion rights Democrats who supported the healthcare bill have been invited to the signing.

Here is a list of them:

Sen. Bob Casey (Pa.)
Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.)
Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (Ohio)
Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.)
Rep. Jerry Costello (Ill.)
Rep. Chris Carney (Pa.)
Rep. Steve Driehaus (Ohio)
Rep. Charlie Wilson (Ohio)
Rep. Jim Oberstar (Minn.)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (W.Va.)
Rep. Brad Ellsworth (Ind.)
Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas)
Rep. Mike Doyle (Pa.)

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