Senate appropriators rebuke Trump on abortion policy
By JENNIFER HABERKORN 09/07/2017 06:56 PM EDT
Senate appropriators on Thursday dealt a twofold rebuke to the Trump administration on abortion policy, though it is almost certain the changes won't become law.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2018 foreign relations funding bill containing language that would undo a Trump administration prohibition on funding for nongovernment organizations that perform or promote abortion.
The committee also adopted an amendment by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire that would undo the Republican policy known as the “Mexico City policy” or the “global gag rule" in a 16-15 vote. Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with panel Democrats to scrap the policy while West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin voted to retain it.
The policy bars federal aid to foreign organizations that provide or promote abortion. In the past, it applied only to organizations that got family planning funding. Under President Donald Trump, it was extended to apply to all organizations that get global health money, potentially including maternal health programs, anti-Zika efforts and the expansive PEPFAR program to stop HIV/AIDS.
Overriding the ban — which Republican presidents customarily put in place days after being inaugurated — would mark an embarrassment for the Trump administration. But the appropriations bill is quite unlikely to be finalized as written. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) noted at the markup the GOP-led House would insist on keeping the Trump policy in place.
more
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/07/senate-appropriators-rebuke-trump-on-abortion-242465
