Two anti-abortion lawmakers in the US will be among those closely watching final negotiations over President Barack Obama's controversial healthcare bill this week.
Lancaster Republican congressman, Joe Pitts, and Democratic senator for Pennsylvania, Bob Casey, have both played a significant role in formulating amendments to curb the use of government funding for abortion.
Pitts, along with Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak, co-sponsored an amendment forbidding any use of federal funds for abortions.
He thinks that enough anti-abortion Democrats could join Republicans in defeating the bill, if the current proposals go ahead.
Casey alienated anti-abortion advocates by supporting a Senate compromise that allows low-to-middle income people entitled to healthcare subsidies to buy insurance that covers abortion, but still prohibits the use of government cash to pay directly for it.
The senator is playing up what he says are abortion curbs - such as an adoption tax credit and a fund to aid pregnant women - in the bill to help prevent defections.
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