Bush Backs RU-486 Limits

W I N S T O N-S A L E M, N.C., Oct. 11 -- Firming up the Republican presidential candidate’s position on the FDA’s decision last month to legalize the abortion pill, George W. Bush’s campaign told ABCNEWS today that he would sign a measure limiting access to the drug if elected.

Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said today that Bush would sign a Republican bill in Congress that would have the effect of limiting the use of RU-486. Fleischer would not say whether Bush would campaign for passage of the legislation.

Discussing the issue at the first presidential debate, Bush said a president would not have the authority to nix the ruling.

“I don’t think a president can even overturn it. The FDAhas made its decision,” Bush said.

Safety Dance

Asked if he could not then try to appoint new members to the Food and Drug Administration and “ask them to reappraise it,” Bush said, “I think once the decision’s made, it’s been made, unless it’s proven to be unsafe to women.”

But legislation before Congress would restrict the sale of RU-486. In particular, Rep. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has proposed legislation that would limit access to the drug.

And the next president will appoint a new FDA commissioner and secretary of Health and Human Services, either of whom could take steps to review the RU-486 decision.

Before the FDA decision, Bush had said he would “be inclined not to accept” a ruling legalizing the mifepristone pill, known as RU-486.

Al Gore’s presidential campaign said the Texas governor has knuckled under to pressure from conservatives, and claimed Bush doesn’t even understand the issue.

“Bush was clearly confused about his position in the first debate,” Gore spokeswoman Kym Spell said. “He didn’t even know he would have the authority to overturn the FDA ruling. And he contradicted what he had said two weeks earlier.”

Concerns About Women’s Health Cited