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.
 
 
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