04-08-2000

ABORTION: House Again Approves Abortion Bill

The House on April 5 brushed aside charges of election-year politics and
passed a ban on certain late-term abortions, even though President Clinton
has threatened to veto the bill once again. "This is a bill in search
of a veto for political purposes," charged Rep. Barney Frank,
D-Mass., during the emotional debate. "Money spent on this bill ought
to be reported to the Federal Election Commission as a Republican campaign
contribution." But Republican supporters of the bill were just as
firm in their position. "This is a barbaric and gruesome
procedure," said Rep. Ernie Fletcher, R-Ky. Under the legislation, a
doctor or other person performing a so-called partial-birth abortion could
receive up to two years in prison and be fined, unless the procedure was
necessary to save the woman's life. Critics complained that exception left
no room for partial-birth abortions where the health, but not the life, of
the mother was at risk from a pregnancy. Abortion opponents, however,
argued that a "health" loophole would allow abortions for
psychological as well as physical dangers to the mother. Although the
House's 287-141 vote was large enough to override a veto by Clinton, the
Senate's 63-34 vote in favor of a companion bill in October fell short of
the necessary two-thirds majority. Clinton vetoed similar bills in 1996
and 1997, and Congress upheld his decisions both times.


Spencer Rich/National Journal News Service

National Journal