Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 21, 1995 TAG: 9507210063
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The panel handed that victory and others to abortion opponents as it took up a bill that would slash spending for dozens of social programs and eliminate many others - including the office of surgeon general, a post that became embroiled in controversy this year when the Senate rejected President Clinton's nominee largely because of his abortion record.
Additional anti-abortion riders are expected when the panel continues work on the bill, probably today. They include one allowing states to impose new limits on Medicaid funding for abortions for poor women who are victims of rape or incest.
The full House is expected to go along with most if not all of the provisions. Prospects in the Senate are less certain, however, with family planning supporters holding out hope they can derail the legislation.
The bill also would reduce the Department of Education budget by 16 percent, the Labor Department by 12 percent and the Department of Health and Human Services by 4 percent. It would abolish a summer jobs program for youth, energy assistance for the poor, and Clinton's education reform initiative, Goals 2000.
In addition, the legislation is littered with mandates to rein in the power of regulatory agencies like the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the National Labor Relations Board.
The measure is shaping up as a potential vehicle for anti-abortion forces to turn the new Republican majority in Congress into a working majority for their agenda. But with their 100-day House honeymoon long since over, Republicans are finding themselves sharply divided over abortion and related matters, and those rifts were on display during Appropriations Committee debate Thursday.
The family planning amendment passed 28-25. Seven Republicans opposed the amendment.
The family planning program, for which $193 million had been allotted, does not subsidize abortion services but has been a target of anti-abortion forces because many organizations that receive federal funds for family planning also provide abortion counseling and services.
by CNB