Budgeting Abortions

Basically, what the budget would do (as I understand it) is let DC use its own locally-generated taxes however it sees fit and limit the restriction on abortion spending to federal funds.

As I DC resident, I wholeheartedly support this. Home rule is an important issue here. Let our elected representatives decide how to spend our tax money (just as happens everywhere else in the country gets to do).

Two different issues, Mike.

DC is the only place in the country where it's budget is controlled by Congress, even money it collects from non-federal coffers. Imagine if Texas or Mississippi had its non-federal budget controlled and monitored from DC where lawmakers used the budget to advance political agenda.

That's different from the larger constitutional question of abortion.

I keep hearing how Pres. Obama is looking for "common ground" and wants to decrease the number of abortions. As far as I can see all of the administration's policies have been to increase the availability of abortion. As pointed out in the article, the change is likely to increase the number of elective abortions. I don't understand why so many pro-life people insist on defending him.

i it should keep its hands off the rights of states to regulate abortion.

Which it does, as long as it doesn't violate the Roe principles. The federal government isn't stopping any state from regulating abortion. The Roe progeny merely places limits--which have been stretched beyond recognition--on how far states can go in regulating a fundamental right. Thus, states have been permitted to limit late-term abortions, add parental consent, regulate the practice of abortion providers, added informed consent.

Federalism is alive and well when it comes to abortion, just not the ultimate step of invalidating a fundamental right.

Michael-

The ultimate step of which you speak is, as Donald points out, a matter of life and death.

The rights of the states are not alive and well as it relates to abortion.

You may recall that Nebraska's attempt to prohibit partial birth abortion was struck down by the Supreme Court.

But by all means don't let the Federal government lay hands on the money of the states or the District of Columbia.

Mike

PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING, it seems, and the Obama White House has mastered the art of affecting consciousness in presenting the “budget cuts.”

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2009/05/obamas-aggressive-budget-cuts.html

Obama is completely squandering an opportunity for reform.