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MARQUETTE - At the center of a firestorm of controversy over his amendment to oppose government funding for abortion, U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, said health care reform is a very emotional issue and he didn't foresee the attention the issue has grabbed.

"Am I surprised it got this much traction? Yeah. I'd rather talk about the benefits of health care," Stupak said. "It's not fun going against your party. It's not fun standing up to leadership. There's no pleasure in this. But this is a principle I just couldn't compromise on and neither could most members of the House."

Stupak made the comments during a taping of Media Meet, which airs on WNMU-TV13 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. next Sunday.

The House recently approved the $1.1 trillion Affordable Health Care for Americans Act, which is headed for Senate consideration.

Stupak, who voted for the House bill, won support for his amendment, which was the only amendment allowed on the floor. The measure passed by a vote of 240-190.

The amendment bars a new government-run insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or peril to the life of the mother, and prohibits any health plan that receives federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage.

Many pro-choice advocates have been angered over Stupak's amendment, some contributing money to oppose his next election bid. Democrats on both sides of the abortion issue have been hardening their positions on the issue, as it relates to health care reform.

Stupak said the abortion component of the health care debate "can scuttle the entire (health care reform) effort."

"Before this battle ever started - as you know I sit on the Energy and Commerce Committee where this legislation basically came through - I went to leadership and I said, ... 'current law is no federal funding for abortion - leave current law like it is,' " Stupak said. "Don't add, don't take away, just leave it like it is and let's talk about health care. Unfortunately, leadership decided to try to require taxpayers to pay for abortions, contrary to current federal law."

Stupak said if you look at the 64 Democrats who voted with Stupak, at least 20 to 25 of them are considered pro-choice members of Congress.

"But on this one issue - and there's strong feelings on both sides - on this one issue, public funding of abortion, even pro-choice people say we're just not going there," Stupak said. "So I was always very comfortable with what we were doing. I'm surprised it's caused as much of an uproar as it has - and so much misinformation.

"All the Stupak amendment does is maintain current federal policy - no public funding for abortion. And if you get federal dollars, you cannot buy a policy that covers abortion. That's all we did. That's all the intent of language. That's all it's going to be."

Stupak said recent polls have shown up to 65 percent of Americans responding want no public funding for abortion. Stupak said President Barack Obama wants current law in the health care bill.

"When I spoke with the president some time before this vote ever came up, it was current law," Stupak said. "Current law is high so there's no reason to change it. What's in the Stupak Amendment is current law. Then leave it."

Stupak said his involvement in the no public funding for abortion issue should be no surprise to anyone.

"It's always been a principle I've lived by. And it's reflective of my district. In fact, it's reflective of America," Stupak said.

Stupak said if the Senate acts on the bill soon, the health care legislation could be acted on before the end of the year.

"Even if it means you go home two days for Christmas and come right back, we'll do that. We've done it before," Stupak said.

Stupak said health care reform is one issue that affects every man, woman and child in the country now and into the future.

"This one's the emotional issue because it's so hard to have health care nowadays. If you have it, you're afraid you're going to lose something. If you don't have it, you really realize you need it or you're going to end up in bankruptcy," Stupak said. "It's a very, very emotional issue. Of all the votes I've taken in Congress, this is probably the one vote that touches everybody."