ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 1997 TAG: 9702260084
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
Senate OKs funding for birth control
WASHINGTON - The administration scored a major success for its international family-planning policy Tuesday when the Senate voted to release funds without imposing new restrictions on groups involved in abortion activities.
The 53-46 vote in the Senate guaranteed that on March 1 the government can begin releasing $385 million slated for overseas family planning. Previously that money had been frozen until July 1.
``It was a critically important vote because it was the first on the family-planning issue in this Congress,'' said Gloria Feldt, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
- Associated Press
Judge: State can't recall Rebel plates
BALTIMORE - Disappointed by a judge's decision upholding the use of Confederate flags on specialty license plates, Maryland officials are pondering a possible appeal while a lawmaker has drafted a bill abolishing all specialty tags.
A federal judge ruled Monday that state motor vehicle officials violated the free speech rights of the Sons of Confederate Veterans when they revoked plates bearing the group's logo, the Confederate battle flag. The judge also prohibited the Motor Vehicle Administration from recalling the specialty tags.
The ruling ``opens a Pandora's box,'' said Del. Clarence Mitchell IV, because it would allow any group, no matter how offensive, to obtain a special plate and put its symbol on it.
- The Baltimore Sun
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB