| President Bush
Signs Abortion Memo Reinstating 'Mexico City' Policy |
|||
| WASHINGTON,
D.C. (EP) - In an unpublicized move, President Bush signed a
special memorandum March 28 that will withhold U.S. foreign aid
to family planning groups which advocate abortion. The quiet action preempts pro-abortion forces in Congress who had hoped to overturn Bush's decision to reinstate the Reagan-era policy which forbids taxpayer funding of international family planning groups which do abortion counseling or lobbying with their own funds. Bush's action is a procedural step designed to keep Congress from even voting on the question. Bush first reinstated the "Mexico City" policy on Jan. 22 (the policy gets its name from the location of a conference that prompted the Reagan Administration to initially impose the restriction). Senate foes had planned to challenge Bush's action, using a 1996 law that allows the House and Senate to reject federal regulations. Bush responded by withdrawing his proposed rules and instead issuing a special memorandum, which is not subject to Congressional review. "The president believes this is the most effective way to implement the policy," said a spokesman. |
|||
| All site contents Copyright © 2002 St. Louis MetroVoice | |||
| St. Louis MetroVoice PO Box 220010 St. Louis, MO 63122 314/965-5757 Fax 314/965-5757 Email: stlmv@aol.com Web site: www.metrovoice.net |
|||