Bush Issues Order Blocking Abortion Funds

Jan. 22, 2001 -- On the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion, President Bush has issued an executive order stopping federal funding of international family-planning groups.

"It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either here or abroad," said Bush in a statement issued by the White House late this afternoon.

The executive memorandum, mostly affects overseas organizations that offer abortion and abortion counseling.

U.S. funding for international groups that support abortion rights was first stopped by President Ronald Reagan in what became known as the "Mexico City" policy, because it was announced by Reagan at a 1984 population conference there.

President Clinton, an abortion-rights supporter, restored funding two days after he became president in 1993.

Bush's decision drew criticism from Kate Michelman, president of the National Abortion Rights Action League, who called the order "a harbinger of things to come."

Michelman added there was "quite a bit of harm that can be done to women's reproductive rights" during the Bush administration, saying that Supreme Court appointments and other judicial appointments would have a significant impact as well.

But Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, applauded the move, saying it meant "the U.S. government will no longer be using taxpayer dollars to try to legalize abortion" in foreign countries.

Contentious Issue Will Be Front and Center

Today's announcement shows that although Bush has not publicly placed the issue of abortion at the top of his domestic-policy agenda, he is ready to take action on what figures to become a major point of contention.

And newly reinvigorated by having a Republican president in office for the first time in eight years, anti-abortion rights demonstrators marched through Washington today, demonstrating against the Roe vs. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.

Bush did not personally address the marchers, as Reagan and Bush's father, President George Bush, both did in the past -- albeit via telephone or recorded message. But the president delivered a statement to the crowd via Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, a Republican firmly opposed to abortion rights.

Making a clear reference to the belief of abortion opponents that a fetus should be subject to the same laws as people, Bush said in the statement his administration would attempt to "build a culture of life, affirming that every person, at every stage and season of life, is created in God's image."

In the statement, Bush said he trusted the "civility and good sense" of abortion opponents, and encouraged them to "engage our differences in a spirit of tolerance and good will."

When asked why Bush had not addressed the crowd in person, Fleischer said the president "thought that was the appropriate way to proceed today, and I think that the marchers and those who received it are very pleased with what he had to say."

Smith plans to reintroduce legislation in the House of Representatives later this month that would ban late-term abortions, except in cases where the life of the mother is threatened.

The anti-abortion rights protesters first gathered at the Washington Monument, where one person even held a sign saying, "Thank You Rev. Jackson for Not Aborting Your Love Child." Last Thursday, Jesse Jackson acknowledged fathering a child out of wedlock.

The demonstrators then marched up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court.

An ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll released today shows that 59 percent of Americans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with 39 percent opposed.

Forty-nine percent of those who supported Bush in the presidential election think abortion should be legal, while 73 percent of those who supported his Democratic opponent, Al Gore, hold the same view.

RU-486, Or Not?

Bush may attempt to revise other federal measures in an attempt to make access to abortions more difficult.

This morning, the president warded off questions about another controversial abortion-related subject, the use of stem cells from fetal tissues for medical research.

"I'll deal with that issue later," Bush told reporters prior to a meeting with Republican congressional leaders.

Fleischer would not comment directly on the possibility that Bush might institute an executive order banning stem cell research, but noted the president could take such an action "at any time."

"It presents a fine balance between medical research and helping find cures andsolutions to problems, and protecting the life of the unborn," said Fleischer. "And he does support research from adult stem cells, but he does not support fetal tissue research from induced abortions."

On Sunday, Bush's chief of staff, Andy Card, implied that the administration would consider reversing a decision made last September by the Food and Drug Administration to make the abortion pill RU-486 legal in the United States.

"We're going to take a look at all of the regulations," Card said on CBS' Face the Nation. "We're going to take a look at all of the executive orders." But Card insisted the administration's approach was not "a knee-jerk action to undo."

At the time of the FDA ruling, Bush expressed disagreement with the agency's ruling, but said, "I don't think the president can unilaterally overturn it."

First Lady Favors Roe vs. Wade Ruling

Adding to the concerns of abortion rights activists, Bush's nominee for attorney general, former Missouri Sen. John Ashcroft, opposes abortion in all cases except those in which the woman's life is in jeopardy.

But one prominent Republican to speak up for abortion rights in recent days is none other than first lady Laura Bush.

Asked on Friday on NBC's Today show if Roe vs. Wade should be reversed, the new first lady said, "No. I don't think it should be overturned."

But Laura Bush also said she favors programs intended to reduce the need for abortions, including measures to "try to reduce the number of abortions in a lot of ways … by teaching abstinence, having abstinence classes everywhere in schools and in churches and in Sunday school."

President Bush has said he would not rule out a challenge to Roe vs. Wade. Asked Wednesday if he would rule out a challenge to the decision, Bush said, "Not at all," adding, "I campaigned as a pro-life candidate."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.