Senate Votes to Let Soldiers Overseas Pay for Abortion

New York Times ^ | Saturday, June 22, 2002 | By CARL HULSE

[JohnHuang2]

June 22, 2002

Senate Votes to Let Soldiers Overseas Pay for Abortion

By CARL HULSE

ASHINGTON, June 21 — American servicewomen overseas would be able to pay for abortions at military hospitals under a proposal approved today by the Senate.

By a vote of 52 to 40, the Senate voted to repeal the current ban on such payments as part of a defense spending bill, putting it in opposition with the House, which last month rejected a similar effort to change the policy, which has been in place since 1996.

Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington and sponsor of the abortion amendment, said the legislation was needed to make certain that the estimated 100,000 American servicewomen serving in foreign countries had access to safe and legal abortions.

Under the provision, the woman undergoing the procedure would use personal money to pay any associated costs, and military medical personnel could not be compelled to perform an abortion.

"These women are committed to protecting our rights as free citizens, yet they are denied one of the most basic rights afforded all women in this country," said Ms. Murray, who has sponsored similar amendments in the past.

The Senate last considered the issue in 2000, when it rejected repealing the ban.

Supporters of the amendment said that under the present system, women must ask their commanding officer for permission to return to the United States to seek an abortion.

"I can only imagine how difficult it would be for a female officer or enlisted person to have to go to her commander and ask for time off to travel to the United States to get an abortion," said Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan and chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Levin said military personnel who did not want to make such a request were faced with the "unacceptable" alternative of getting an abortion in the host country, where medical personnel might not be trained to American standards or speak English.

Opponents of the provision said it would unnecessarily tie up the $393 billion defense measure. Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, said the proposal "attempts to turn taxpayer-funded Department of Defense medical treatment facilities into, unfortunately, abortion clinics."

Supporting the amendment were 46 Democrats, 5 Republicans and 1 independent; 2 Democrats and 38 Republicans rejected it.

[JohnHuang2]

Saturday, June 22, 2002

Quote of the Day by ArGee

[MHGinTN]

I wonder how many dollars Sen Murray receives from the pre-born tissue harvesting industry thriving in Washington State, fed from the abortion clinics doing 'late term procedures'? Couple of years ago, I had a number for most of the Senators (three or four years ago, as I actually recall, and that referred to 1998). Murray has been very vocal in suppressing anything that would legislate against her protected infanticide/contributions connection. B. Boxer and T Harkin are two others of note in this active group. [Can't use their full names 'cause they've threatened to sue me for slander. Knew I was having some kind of impact when the ghouls bothered to react!]

[truth_session]

I'm so glad that our bipartisan Senate is banding together to make our world a safer place from terrorists and murderers. God must be smiling on us.

[LadyDoc]

This would force medical personnel to "help" with abortions in the military hospitals. Most military doctors and nurses are prolife, and objected to this when Clinton tried to push it down their throats.

[Republican Wildcat]

"I can only imagine how difficult it would be for a female officer or enlisted person to have to go to her commander and ask for time off to travel to the United States to get an abortion," said Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan and chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

They just get pregnant on their own, don't they, Senator? Utter stupidity! The press doesn't even mention how ridiculous this is! Just prints it as gospel.