[general_re]

Maher specifically denied the claim that state or federal government were compelled by the Constitution to fund abortions for poor women - the claim had been raised that if Medicaid paid for full-term pregancies and births, it would somehow be a violation of the 14'th amendment not to also fund abortion. The court disagreed - it said that states and the federal government can fund abortion if they wish, but they cannot be legally compelled to fund abortion.

Harris was the case where the court upheld the Hyde Amendment - which, you probably recall, was the amendment to Title XIX of the Social Security Act that essentially forbade the Medicaid program from reimbursing the cost of abortions (and thereby paying for them, of course) except in the case of the endangerment of the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.

The bottom line is that government is not required to fund abortion, although they can - the decision belongs to Congress and state legislatures. If abortion is an important issue to you, keep that in mind when you vote.

Maher v. Roe
Harris v. McRae

[AUgrad]

Thank you.