Posted on 05/16/2007 9:45:07 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
AUGUSTA -- A proposal to use state funds to pay for the abortions of poor women was shelved by a legislative committee. Members of the Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously against the measure after revisiting the proposal Friday.
The bill was important to activists on both sides of the issue. Abortion-rights advocates said it addressed inequities in health care while social conservatives objected to using tax money for a procedure they oppose morally.
Lawmakers, particularly supporters of the measure, cited the proposal's cost in a difficult fiscal climate as a factor in its demise.
Opponents stressed the outcry against the bill, which included a Statehouse rally attended by about 200 people.
The measure, sponsored by Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, would have provided $283,000 each year to pay for abortions for women eligible for MaineCare, the state's version of Medicaid.
The federal-state program now only covers the procedure when a woman's life is threatened or when the pregnancy results from rape or incest.
"I'm disappointed," Edmonds said, "but I think (the committee) made the decision early in the session to not pass anything that was a new benefit that required funding."
Sen. Joseph Brannigan, D-Portland, said he and the other committee chairperson, Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, recommended voting against the bill. Both were among the bipartisan group of 32 lawmakers who co-sponsored it.
"We have tried to not initiate new programs, benefits, because of the money. It was on that basis," Brannigan said.
Marc Mutty, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, said he heard many times that there was not enough money for the initiative. But he also gave much of the credit to those who voiced their opposition.
"I think certainly it was made crystal clear we were adamant about this issue and we were going to press this aggressively," he said.
Backers of the bill remain committed to their cause and are weighing their options, said Kate Brogan, a spokeswoman for the Family Planning Association of Maine.
Proponents have noted that court challenges in other states led to the creation of similar programs.
Mike Hein, administrator of the Christian Civic League, said opponents are ready to fight in court, although he prefers the debate to take place in the Statehouse, where citizens can give input and legislators are put on record.
"They kind of took a pass on this one," Hein said of lawmakers. "I suspect if it goes to the courts, it's anybody's guess."
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Stevie of Caribou, ME May 16, 2007 10:45 AM It would be great if I had say on whether my tax dollars goes towards abortions. I hope they take their time on this highly controversial issue.
Sue of Fairfield, ME May 16, 2007 9:43 AM Some of the same people who are against this bill will be the ones complaining about abused and neglected children from unwanted pregnancies. I agree it came at a time when nothing that costs the state extra is going to be approved, despite the fact that the costs are yet to come in this case.
Steve of Springvale, ME May 16, 2007 8:43 AM Wow, a correct decision from Augusta. I'm marking this one down.
Wonder why this story isn't one of the headlines on the MaineToday.com home page? You think if the legislative committee voted the other way, then it would have merited a headline?
Berserker of Freeport, ME May 16, 2007 8:33 AM
It has been "quietly shelved" in order to allow the Senate President, Beth Edmonds, to save face for submitting such an idiotic piece of divisive drivel in the first place.
As a certain fat Dixie Chick said about President Bush, I am ashamed that I come from the same town as Edmonds.
About MaineCare
http://www.mejp.org/medicaid.htm
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