The pro-life Mexico City Policy, instituted by President Reagan, and rescinded by President Obama during his first week in office, will never be in force again, if pro-abortion Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has his way.
Congressional Quarterly reports,
A permanent repeal became part of the Senate fiscal 2010 State-Foreign Operations spending bill (S 1434) when Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., offered an amendment that the Appropriations Committee adopted with little fanfare in early July.
Lautenberg said he offered the amendment to end the uncertainty that foreign aid recipients face whenever control of the White House shifts between parties. The restriction was originally put in place by the administration of Ronald Reagan, lifted by President Bill Clinton days after taking office, then reinstated by President George W. Bush shortly after his inauguration.
“Health care providers across the globe should be able to care for the health of women and families without ideological obstacles blocking the way,” Lautenberg said.
Family planning advocates have long said the rule restricts health care and social service groups operating in the developing world.
But groups that oppose abortion rights say it’s inappropriate to include such a measure in a spending bill, in part because it would constrain the president’s authority to determine conditions on foreign aid.
Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, said that if the Lautenberg amendment is included, his organization will use the vote on the underlying spending bill to evaluate a lawmaker’s anti-abortion credentials.
“If the leadership want to use this as a vehicle to make a permanent change in the president’s authority and foreign policy, there are senators that are going to have a lot of other ideas . . . and maybe Sen. Reid should plan on spending a couple of weeks on this,” Johnson said, referring to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “Lautenberg has opened that door.”
Lautenberg said he offered the amendment to end the uncertainty that foreign aid recipients face whenever control of the White House shifts between parties. The restriction was originally put in place by the administration of Ronald Reagan, lifted by President Bill Clinton days after taking office, then reinstated by President George W. Bush shortly after his inauguration.
“Health care providers across the globe should be able to care for the health of women and families without ideological obstacles blocking the way,” Lautenberg said.
Family planning advocates have long said the rule restricts health care and social service groups operating in the developing world.
But groups that oppose abortion rights say it’s inappropriate to include such a measure in a spending bill, in part because it would constrain the president’s authority to determine conditions on foreign aid.
Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, said that if the Lautenberg amendment is included, his organization will use the vote on the underlying spending bill to evaluate a lawmaker’s anti-abortion credentials.
“If the leadership want to use this as a vehicle to make a permanent change in the president’s authority and foreign policy, there are senators that are going to have a lot of other ideas . . . and maybe Sen. Reid should plan on spending a couple of weeks on this,” Johnson said, referring to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “Lautenberg has opened that door.”
It's important to note that the Mexico City Policy never limited the amount of federal foreign aid dollars available from the U.S. Government. What it did accomplish was the establishment of a criterion for the types of organizations eligible for funds: namely, those that did not perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning.
Rescinding the policy last January was far and away one of Obama's least popular decisions, according to Gallup.
Taxpayers don't foot the bill for abortions domestically, and they shouldn't be paying for abortions abroad either. One of my favorite quotes about the need for the Mexico City Policy is from Grace Olivarez, a dissenting member of John D. Rockefeller III's federal advisory commission on population:
The poor cry out for justice and equality, and we respond with legalized abortion
THe USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities used Grace's statement for an ad campaign earlier this year. Their advertisements added,Some people have long been tempted to see abortion as a "quick fix" for the problems of the poor.
But poor women need help providing for their children, not eliminating them.
But poor women need help providing for their children, not eliminating them.
The United States should continue President Reagan's vision of promoting life-affirming foreign aid that lovingly supports both mother an child, not policies that drives them toward the uncaring hands of an abortionist. We'll keep you updated on Senator Lautenberg's amendment as the legislation moves through the Senate.
