And what are these two “tough” issues? Believe it or not they are [1] abortion and immigration — as if!

Now health care reform — or rather, health insurance reform — is supposed to extend coverage to tens of millions of Americans who do not have health insurance by requiring that almost everyone buy health insurance, while obliging businesses to cover their employees, and providing subsidies for lower-income people. It is also supposed to keep insurance companies from turning people away (or canceling their existing polices) due to their health status.

But now the House has to dither over the relatively minor issues of abortion and immigration.

The anti-abortion Democrats (yes, such creatures do exist) aren’t satisfied with the language regarding prohibitions against the federal funding of abortions. They say the stipulation that people will have to use their own money for abortions isn’t straightforward enough. Oh well, at least they don’t seem to be looking to outlaw abortion entirely, just a more solid declaration against use of federal funds for abortion.

They still cannot make up their minds about whether or not illegal immigrants would be allowed to buy insurance in some new purchasing exchange — whatever that’s supposed to be in its present incarnation. Regardless of rude Congressmen who shout “you lie” at the president, the White House doesn’t want illegals to have access to the exchange.

Of course, abortion and immigration, in and of themselves, are important issues, but they shouldn’t be holding up the larger issue of a very urgent need for insurance reform.