Originally published Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Editorial
An anti-abortion ploy
Disguised as an employment-discrimination imitative, the Bush administration's proposed funding rule would limit women's reproductive health rights.
The Bush administration has done a poor job of cloaking its latest end run around women's reproductive rights.
A Department of Health and Human Services proposed rule would require health-care providers and other recipients of aid from federal health programs to certify they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and some birth control. No certification; no aid.
Administration officials say the rule change is about employment discrimination. No, it clearly is a ploy to limit women's access to reproductive health care. The administration knows attaching strings to funding would have disastrous consequences on access to abortion and contraceptives by women.
The proposed change is worded so broadly the restrictions would extend to oral contraceptives and emergency contraception. Programs such as Medicaid and Title X, which provide family-planning services, could be jeopardized.
Fortunately, Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Hillary Clinton, D-NY, are on the case.
"One of the most troubling aspects of the proposed rules is the overly broad definition of abortion," the senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt. "This definition would allow health-care corporations or individuals to classify many common forms of contraception — including the birth-control pill, emergency contraception and IUDs — and therefore to refuse to provide contraception to women who need it."
The senators note such a rule change could even deny access to emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault in hospital emergency rooms.
In its waning days, President Bush should take a break from weakening women's reproductive-health rights.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: A tragic clash of cultures

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- Stormy weather to continue today in the Seattle area
- UCLA game thread
938 - Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
389 - Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment
333 - Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect
286 - Decision day for health care in the House
197 - McGinn widens lead over Mallahan in Seattle mayoral race
183 - Schools emerge as new tactic in gay marriage votes
99 - Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
91 - Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working
75 - Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
71
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Guest columnist | Cut the South Carolina jokes, Seattle. Get ready to compete
- Movie review | 'An Education' you won't forget
- Practical Mac | With new features, Apple's MobileMe is worth the price
- H1N1 vaccine for high-risk group coming to King Co. pharmacies
- Shoreline man killed when struck by falling tree part
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police





