One of the bills making its way through the House, though originally making no mention of abortion, has been amended to say that "Hyde-amendment" abortions - those performed in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother - "shall" be covered. Whether or not this part of this bill becomes law - or ends up stronger or weaker - is impossible to say.

Nonetheless, Obama did misrepresent the bill's approach to abortion when he insisted "no" abortions would be paid for with federal money. Some of you with whom I disagreed, based on his comments, were at least partly right. My apologies to you, and I am dismayed and disappointed by the President's distortion.