Pres. Obama to Revoke Mexico City Policy Today, Fund Overseas Abortions

The Mexico City policy was considered by many to be one of the most effective pro-life policies of the Bush and Regan administrations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews.com) - One day after the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, President Obama is set to sign an order to lift the Mexico City policy, a Regan-era policy that prohibits taxpayer funds from going to organizations that promote or perform abortions overseas.

It was widely anticipated that Obama would sign the executive order yesterday, on the 36th anniversary of Roe. In 1993 former president Bill Clinton had revoked the policy on that day. George Bush reinstated the policy on his first day in office in 2001.

Instead of signing the order yesterday, however, Obama instead issued a statement defending Roe, while speaking of the need to find "common ground" in the "divisive" and "sensitive" abortion debate.

In yesterday's statement Obama explained, "I remain committed to protecting a woman's right to choose." Nevertheless, he said, "we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services."

While the decision not to revoke the policy yesterday was cautiously interpreted as evidence that Obama may not be as extreme on abortion as he has promised to be, and would not force taxpayers to pay for abortions, pro-life and pro-abortion organizations did not have to wait long for Obama to prove his solidly pro-abortion credentials.

"President Obama not long ago told the American people that he would support policies to reduce abortions, but today he is effectively guaranteeing more abortions by funding groups that promote abortion as a method of population control," said Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee.

The Mexico City policy was considered by many to be one of the most effective pro-life policies of the Bush and Regan administrations. International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), one of the most pro-abortion organizations in the world, told the BBC today that under the Bush administration, thanks to the Mexico City Policy, the organisation had lost more than $100m (Ł73m) in funding.

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