Sen. Boxer joins abortion fray

[question everything]

Sen. Boxer joins abortion fray

Law changes abortion rules

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

By CLAIRE VITUCCI / Washington Bureau
Press - Enterprise

WASHINGTON - California Sen. Barbara Boxer has vowed to fight a provision attached to a congressional budget bill that would allow some Inland health-care providers to ignore state requirements that they offer abortion services to patients.

The measure was included in a massive congressional spending bill that passed Congress over the weekend. President Bush is expected to sign it into law. It would stop federal, state and local agencies from withholding federal money from health-care providers that refuse to provide abortions or refuse to offer abortion counseling or referrals.

(snip)

Federal law now allows a "conscience protection" to doctors, which allows them to decline to provide abortion services or undergo abortion training based on religious beliefs... But Kathy Kneer, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said the fear is that states like California might face a loss in federal funding if they demand that all Medicaid providers offer abortion-related services. She called the amendment "fundamentally flawed and overbroad."

(snip)

Boxer said she would bring up legislation appealing the provision when the Senate reconvenes next year, making sure she launches her fight before April.

(snip)

Reach Claire Vitucci at [phone] or [email protected]

Online at: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_abort24.a1128.html

[catzies]

1. I heard Sen. Boxer yesterday on Pasadena's NPR

"A provision in a $388 billion spending bill passed by the House and Senate on Saturday would block any of the measure's money from going to federal, state or local agencies that act against health care providers and insurers because they don't provide abortions, make abortion referrals, or cover them. But Democrats, namely California Senator Barbara Boxer, complained that the provision was slipped into the voluminous year-end spending bill without debate or discussion in the Senate or the House. The Senator joins Kitty to talk about her point of view."

listen-only pop-up at http://www.scpr.org/programs/talkcity/index.shtml

scroll down to Tues. Nov. 23

[blue agave]

2. Just listened to audio clip ...

Boxer: "I don't know what kind of people are writing these things, but they have no compassion!"

I would say that they have no "moral values".

[Maat]

3. Exactly. They have no moral values.

They do not care about abandoned, abused or neglected children. Just want 'em cranked out ... no provision for adequate health care for children born with defects or disease...inadequate funding for abused, abandoned, neglected children.

[Carla in Ca]

4. sad, isn't it?

to them, 'pro-life' ends at birth

[DianeG5385]

6. And it begins again at death

When suffering terminally ill people want treatment ended. In between, you're on your own.

[Carla in Ca]

7. Not quite...

Remember, they like to execute people, too!

[Democat]

5. Good for Boxer!

She won her last election easily, without moving to the right or kissing Bush's ass.

[Robert Oak]

10. That's cause dems don't get it

It's not that America wants "Republican lite" they want backbone.

[burrowowl]

8. Boxer is the Woman!

Can we clone her?

[foo_bar]

9. what a headline

"once more into the breech!"