|
|
| SUBSCRIBE ME! |
Nov. 18, 1997 |
|
More on the "Mexico City" Policy Congress has adjourned until 1998 leaving behind a stalemate between the House and President Clinton over a pro-life provision known as the "Mexico City" policy. Because of President Clinton’s determination to veto the foreign operations appropriations bill as long as it contained the pro-life amendment, and because the Senate was expected to vote down a conference report with the pro-life language in it, the House sent the bill to the President without his requested funding for $819 million in back dues for the United Nations, an additional $3.5 billion for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and State Department reorganization. In the final days before adjournment, House leaders attempted to achieve a compromise they thought both the Senate and the White House might accept. Pro-life leader Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) agreed to language that would make the Mexico City policy permanent law, but allowing President Clinton to the power to waive exceptions for agencies that perform abortions. Should he exercise the waiver, the $385 million in family planning funds would be reduced to $350 million, permanently capping all expenditures for those purposes, from any federal account, at that amount. [Funding for "family planning" services overseas comes from government sources other than foreign operations, increasing the amount far beyond the $385 million of concern here.] The compromise was accepted by the Senate but was stopped by House Foreign Operations Subcommittee chairman Rep. John Porter (R-IL) and Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), both staunch supporters of abortion. When Congress reconvenes in January, these issues will reemerge. In a Washington Times article (11/14/97), Congressman Smith said he has been assured the U.N. money will never be paid without the abortion language he wants. "Mexico City is absolutely, totally, inextricably linked to U.N. arrearages and IMF," he said. We have the Speaker’s [Newt Gingrich] word that, in perpetuity, no arrearages, no IMF, unless the White House meets us halfway on Mexico City."
California 22 Update
Florida
| |
RNC/Life - P.O. Box 618 - Alton, IL 62002 Or you may charge your contribution on Master Card or Visa by calling 618/462-5415. (Contributions are not tax-deductible) Thank you very much for your support! |
|
Republican National Coalition for Life 618-462-5415 | |