Walking the Walk: Democrats Pass Bill to Reduce Abortion Print E-mail
By Jesse Lava
Jul. 22, 07 09:05

File this one under walking the walk.

 

For decades, Republicans have made opposition to abortion the foundation of their national coalition.  Strangely, though, they haven't actually passed anything particularly significant to reduce the number of abortions in the U.S.

 

The Democrats, however -- long demonized for being "pro-abortion" -- have now passed an initiative in the House of Representatives to cut down on the abortion rate.  Pushed mainly by Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan, the $647 million measure contains provisions both to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to support new parents.  This passage is the culmination of an anti-abortion effort that Rosa DeLauro announced to FaithfulDemocrats.com readers back in September.

 

Here's the meat, from Ryan's website:

Preventive provisions:

 

Access to contraceptive information and services is an important element of preventing pregnancy.  In addition to several funding increases for programs that incrase access to contraceptives, the bill also contains provisions that seek to reduce teen pregnancy.

  • The first increase increase in more than six years for the Title X family planning program,
  • Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants -- a new program at CDC -- to support medically accurate approaches to preventing teen pregnancies that include information about both abstinence and contraception, including the dissemination of science-based tools and strategies to prevent HIV, STD, and teen pregnancy.

Supportive provisions:

 

A number of the programs covered by the amendment are directly relevant to the needs of young women in difficult circumstances who may be deciding whether they are in a position to raise a child.  These programs include the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and the Healthy Start program, which help provide health care and other services for pregnant women and young children lacking other access to care.  Other relevant programs include child care assistance, domestic violence prevention programs, and the variety of family supports financed through the Community Services Block Grant.  All of these programs have been seriously eroded over the past several years, and the amendment begins to reverse that erosion.

  • The first increase in more than six years for the Child Care Development Block Grant
  • The first increase in more than six years for the after-school programs (21st Century Community Learning Centers)
  • New nurse home visitation program grants
  • Adoption awareness campaign at CDC
  • National Survey of Family Growth
  • Domestic violence prevention

 

Of course, the Republicans never did a thing to help to help these measures along, which begs the question: do Republican officials (not rank-and-file voters, but officials) really care about the abortion issue?  Or do they just see it as a tool to generate votes?

 

 

Jesse welcomes comments at jesse [at] faithfuldemocrats.com.


LIST OF COMMENTS

1/10. Thank God
Written by stanjz  | Jul. 22, 07 09:53
This is a step forward in showing that The Democratic Party respects the process of life as well as the living. People contract ailments in life through no fault of their own. We know how un-wanted pregnancies occur. We all know the two most important commandments; to love our God and to love our fellow man. Democrats show their love toward their fellow with their concerted effort to help the less fortunate. Democrats need to show respect toward nature's God, by showing respect to the process of life. Republican leadership shows respect toward neither of the above.

2/10. A Step in the Right Direction
Written by Billy Strain  | Jul. 22, 07 12:00
I always thought that it would require a multi-faceted approach, like focus on prevention as well as things that help support a mother, to help reduce the number of abortions.  How effective this legislation will be remains to be seen, but I'm glad to see the Dems have given the issue some attention.  Its definately a step in the right direction.

3/10. classic
Written by miggsathon  | Jul. 22, 07 14:55

republicans don't believe abortion is murder.  if they did, they would try to make far fewer of those murders happen.  they don't.

i wonder if the senate will pass the bill...or if the republicans will keep it from happening.


4/10. Let's Stop Abortion
Written by Mark  | Jul. 22, 07 19:18
Let's de-politicize this.  Most Republicans do strongly oppose abortion.  I would be ecstatic if people on both sides of the aisle would join hands to end this dreadful practice!

5/10. De-politicize indeed
Written by Jesse  | Jul. 23, 07 08:38

Mark --

I agree that most Republicans -- rank and file -- tend to oppose abortion.  The problem is that their leaders use the issue as a political tool.  The Democrats have de-politicized the issue by passing an abortion reduction bill -- a common sense, common ground solution that almost all Americans support.  The shame is that it took a Democratic Congress to make it happen.

Jesse


6/10. ms.
Written by Maria Drews  | Aug. 06, 07 15:25
Thanks Jesse! This is great stuff more voters need to know about!

7/10. Steve
Written by STeve  | Aug. 14, 07 11:32

As a Democrat elected official I often must explain to people that if you are opposed to abortion you can't be happy with the Republicans!  This is first and foremost a U.S. Supreme Court decision. The last time the Supreme Court re-considered Roe vs Wade was 1993 and they did not overturn Roe vs. Wade.  That was and still is a majority Republican appointed court!  But they get no criticism for being in charge and making this decision.

I explain that Republican policies could actually lead to more abortions.  As poverty increases with conservative fiscal strategies that only benefit the most well off, a woman will feel less likely she can afford to have a child.  Plus the macho selfish male can believe the pregnancy is not his problem and can easily walk away.  One third of all children now grow up without a father in the home and that is our most pressing social problem, and contrary to the fundamentalist church, it's not the quiet lesbian couple who lives in your neighborhood, pays their taxes, and takes care of their home and yard. 

 


8/10. Where are the Fathers?
Written by Bluegrass  | Aug. 16, 07 06:07
Too bad the strategies described above did not include one of the best to reduce abortion.  Make sure the woman is not all alone in rasing the kids.  Almost one in three children in the U.S. are growing up without their father vaguely interesed in their well being.  Imagine how you'd feel if your own father never sent you a birthday card or did not show up to watch you at a game.  When will the religious leaders take this on?

9/10. jim
Written by Jim  | Oct. 17, 07 12:18
So I am curious, exactly why do you people at Faithful Democrats believe reducing the number of abortions is a good thing?  What is the problem with them exactly?

10/10. Terry
Written by Terry  | Oct. 21, 07 13:37

I could have sworn that we were supposed to vote in favor "of abortion" according to Hillary & Pellosey's dictates, along with our ACLU's opinions & mandates.  What's changed?  Also, according to the Hate Crimes Law that we are supposed to keep the churces from reading any passages from the bible that say any & all manners of sin or preferred lifestyles are wrong.  What is wrong with our choice to get rid of our unwanted babies & allowing our gay friends from teaching that they & their lifestyle are just as good & preferred as ours.   Who says people really go to a place called hell for not accepting their Jesus, or that terminating a childs life, even if they have a heart beat is wrong?  If there is a God, surely he isn't that weepy over getting rid of those we don't want in our lives or getting rid of the socially unacceptable & old people, or the handicapped.  Who even wants to look at people with deformities or who aren't at least attractive, or presentable?  If they could use the stem cells from a poor or socially unacceptable baby to save a valid life, especially someone famous like Christopher Reeves or Michael J. Foxx, wouldn't that be more worth while?  Duh!

 

Let's be careful not to become biggots.  Remember that being a Proud Democrat was founded on acceptance of all things that seem right to "All" of us.  Who wants to bring babies into a world that is facing extinction, or into families who are unable to educate those children & offer those children the best clothes, schools & wealth.  That appears to be the reason for many of the shootings.  Parents who don't have the time or finances to raise their kids with as much as the others, produce angry, rejected kids who go on to take the lives of our kids, who have all that they need.  By selective reduction of who should be allowed to have children & can afford the best for them, we could make this world such a much better place. 

 

The homosexuals seem extremely proud & happy, so who's to say we shouldn't concentrate on allowing our kids to meet with the most intelligent & wealthy from their lifestyle and have the right to chose that lifestyle, to further cut down the population.  It would even help curb the number of people receiving Social Security in light of the AIDS Epademic especially & reduce the number of people having children.  Besides, they aren't "ALL" pedafiles.  They could even raise the unwanted children, that others gave birth to, who shouldn't have.  With so many of them "the Gay couples" being much more wealthy, often having 2 or more, Large Incomes coming into their households, they could provide everything a kid could want.  They even have gay churches, so what's the difference?  Don't forget!!!  Stick to your guns & VOTE DEMOCRAT!!!  Have a Wonderful Day Gang!   : )  


Last Updated ( Jul. 22, 07 09:15 )
 
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