CNN: Obama May Reverse Bush Abortion Policy In First Week

[babylonsister]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/19/sources-obama-may-use-executive-order-reverse-abortion-policy/

Sources: Obama may use executive order reverse abortion policy
Posted: 03:00 PM ET


From CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President-elect Barack Obama is considering issuing an executive order to reverse a controversial Bush administration abortion policy in his first week in office, three Democratic sources said Monday.

Obama's second full day as president falls on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States.

Source said Obama may use the occasion to reverse the "Mexico City policy" reinstated in 2001 by Bush that prohibits U.S. money from funding international family planning groups that promote abortion or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion services. It bans any organization receiving family planning funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development from offering abortions or abortion counseling.

The "Mexico City policy," commonly referred to by critics as "the global gag rule," was devised by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 at a population conference in Mexico City.

President Bill Clinton lifted the ban in January 1993 as one of his first acts as president, but President George W. bush reinstated it in his first executive order on January 22, 2001, the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

At the time, critics — including Planned Parenthood — called the move a "legislative ambush."

Bush defended the action, saying then: "It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortion or actively promote abortion."

[sakabatou]

1. Huzzuh

[Political_Junkie]

2. yeah!

K & R

[4 t 4]

3. Go Obama Go

I have faith he'll do the right things.

[ismnotwasm]

4. Good

That law is one of the more disgusting things that asshole implemented.


International Family Planning
January 3, 2005

The Global Gag Rule was reinstated by President George W. Bush on his first day in office in January 2001. Officially termed the Mexico City Policy, these restrictions mandate that no U.S. family planning assistance can be provided to foreign NGOs that use funding from any other source to: perform abortions in cases other than a threat to the woman’s life, rape or incest; provide counseling and referral for abortion; or lobby to make abortion legal or more available in their country.

Called the "gag" rule because it stifles free speech and public debate on abortion-related issues, the policy forces a cruel choice on foreign NGOs: accept U.S. assistance to provide essential health services – but with restrictions that may jeopardize the health of many patients – or reject the policy and lose vital U.S. funds, contraceptive supplies and technical assistance.

Our continuing research shows the gag rule is eroding family planning and reproductive health services in developing countries. There is no evidence that it has reduced the incidence of abortion globally. On the contrary, it impedes the very services that help women avoid unwanted pregnancy from the start.

http://www.populationaction.org/globalgagrule/Summary.shtml

This site has a impact summary from several countries affected.

[BlueCaliDem]

5. Gawd! I'm so glad that nimrod is almost gone.

His convictions are all screwed up.

He has something against sensible unwanted pregnancy policies funded by taxpayers, but he's got NO qualms in using taxpayer dollars for wars we can't afford or need, giving more tax cuts to the already insane wealthy, eliminating any reasonable oversight of tax-dodging offshore corporations and wealthy elites, just as long as we don't use taxpayer dollars to help educate and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

This man's infested with corrupt, elitist hatred for the less privileged.

[Horse with no Name]

6. Okay...this is one of my first flickers of hope.

I'm anxiously awaiting more.

[azmouse]

7. Common sense returns to the White House.

[katandmoon]

8. And while he's at it, he needs to reverse the "conscience" rule and reinstate abortion coverage

in Federal employee health insurance policies. The latter was one of the first things Bill Clinton did after his first inauguration.