[lbo-talk] NYT: "Negotiators Add Abortion Clause to Spending Bill"

[B.]

Yoshie recently voiced the idea-which I disagree
with--that conservatives would never REALLY ban
abortion because it's too useful otherwise. They could
still make use of it if it was banned, however, just
as Dems get use out of it though it is currently
legal. Things like this seem to indicate they're more
than willing to ban it.

B

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Negotiators Add Abortion Clause to Spending Bill
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and CARL HULSE

Published: November 20, 2004

WASHINGTON, Saturday, Nov. 20 - House and Senate
negotiators have tucked a potentially far-reaching
anti-abortion provision into a $388 billion must-pass
spending bill, complicating plans for Congress to wrap
up its business and adjourn for the year.

The provision may be an early indication of the
growing political muscle of social conservatives who
provided crucial support for Republican candidates,
including President Bush, in the election.

House officials said Saturday morning that the final
details of the spending measure were worked out before
midnight and that the bill was filed for the House
vote on Saturday.

The abortion language would bar federal, state and
local agencies from withholding taxpayer money from
health care providers that refuse to provide or pay
for abortions or refuse to offer abortion counseling
or referrals. Current federal law, aimed at protecting
Roman Catholic doctors, provides such "conscience
protection'' to doctors who do not want to undergo
abortion training. The new language would expand that
protection to all health care providers, including
hospitals, doctors, clinics and insurers.

[...]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/20/politics/20spend.html?oref=login&th

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"I'm not too worried by hegemony / I know the cadre will look after me" - Magazine, "Model Worker," 1978