Negotiators Add Abortion Clause to Spending Bill

I just read the following in this morning's New York Times online edition:

"House and Senate negotiators have tucked a potentially far-reaching anti-abortion provision into a $388 billion must-pass spending bill, complicating plans for Congress to wrap up its business and adjourn for the year."

"The abortion language would bar federal, state and local agencies from withholding taxpayer money from health care providers that refuse to provide or pay for abortions or refuse to offer abortion counseling or referrals. Current federal law, aimed at protecting Roman Catholic doctors, provides such "conscience protection'' to doctors who do not want to undergo abortion training. The new language would expand that protection to all health care providers, including hospitals, doctors, clinics and insurers."

This is simply unacceptable. This is just the next step toward overturning Roe v. Wade. And even without overturning it, this measure would allow personal politics at the managerial levels of hospitals to override a woman's right to choose. Please do what you can to fight this by contacting your Congressional representatives--House and Senate.

Here is the full article:
The New York Times > Washington > Negotiators Add Abortion Clause to Spending Bill