Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Bart Stupak, the de facto leader of the coalition of pro-life Democrats who may vote no on the Senate health care bill because of its massive abortion funding, expressed optimism that a deal could be work out on a sidebar bill to ban funding that goes along with the main bill.

However, pro-life advocates remain skeptical and worry such a bill would enable House passage of the Senate measure and Obama would simply sign the bill without accepting the abortion funding ban.

Stupak has already talked about the possibilities of a sidebar bill and has held meetings with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top pro-abortion Democrats pushing the government-run health care measure...