Changing U.S. Senate Looks Better to Abortion Foes.
Abortion opponents have long considered the Senate to be a daunting roadblock for new abortion restrictions and conservative judicial nominees, halting many of the initiatives of a sympathetic House and a president committed to "a culture of life." But now, both sides in the abortion struggle agree, the Senate is changing.
The change in the Senate is not just about the increase in the number of anti-abortion votes, which may amount to only a handful. In general, anti-abortion leaders think the political tide is gradually turning their way. They had already achieved a major legislative success in the last Congress, with the passage of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.
Abortion opponents also hope that such legislation - like the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 - educates the public about what they assert is a much-too-unfettered right to terminate pregnancies. The "partial-birth ban," aimed at a particular type of second- and third-trimester abortion, was struck down by lower federal courts, but is currently on appeal.
Perhaps most important, the anti-abortion movement now faces the prospect of a possibly significant turnover on the Supreme Court with a strong ally in the White House and a Republican majority in the Senate that will grow to 55 votes from 51.
Already, the movement is flexing its muscles. Its allies inserted an anti-abortion provision into the omnibus appropriations bill last week, which would withhold federal money from states and local governments if they require health care providers or insurance companies to perform, pay for or provide referrals for abortion services.
Abortion opponents say there is particularly strong support for one of their newest legislative initiatives, the proposed Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, which would require women seeking abortions after 20 weeks to be told that Congress has determined that the fetus can feel pain and to be offered pain-relieving medication for it.
Abortion-rights groups say they are convinced the public is with them on the basic right. The New York Times/CBS News Poll shows the public continues to favor keeping abortion legal, but many people would like to see stricter limits than currently exist. The most recent poll, conducted last month, found that 34 percent said abortion should be generally available to those who want it, 44 percent said abortion should be available but under stricter limits than it is now, and 21 percent said abortion should not be permitted.
(Excerpts from a New York Times article, 12-02-04.)
The change in the Senate is not just about the increase in the number of anti-abortion votes, which may amount to only a handful. In general, anti-abortion leaders think the political tide is gradually turning their way. They had already achieved a major legislative success in the last Congress, with the passage of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.
Abortion opponents also hope that such legislation - like the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 - educates the public about what they assert is a much-too-unfettered right to terminate pregnancies. The "partial-birth ban," aimed at a particular type of second- and third-trimester abortion, was struck down by lower federal courts, but is currently on appeal.
Perhaps most important, the anti-abortion movement now faces the prospect of a possibly significant turnover on the Supreme Court with a strong ally in the White House and a Republican majority in the Senate that will grow to 55 votes from 51.
Already, the movement is flexing its muscles. Its allies inserted an anti-abortion provision into the omnibus appropriations bill last week, which would withhold federal money from states and local governments if they require health care providers or insurance companies to perform, pay for or provide referrals for abortion services.
Abortion opponents say there is particularly strong support for one of their newest legislative initiatives, the proposed Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, which would require women seeking abortions after 20 weeks to be told that Congress has determined that the fetus can feel pain and to be offered pain-relieving medication for it.
Abortion-rights groups say they are convinced the public is with them on the basic right. The New York Times/CBS News Poll shows the public continues to favor keeping abortion legal, but many people would like to see stricter limits than currently exist. The most recent poll, conducted last month, found that 34 percent said abortion should be generally available to those who want it, 44 percent said abortion should be available but under stricter limits than it is now, and 21 percent said abortion should not be permitted.
(Excerpts from a New York Times article, 12-02-04.)
posted by Sid Cottingham | 10:10 PM
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