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Bush to block funds for international abortions

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January 23, 2001 

WASHINGTON-- (AP) - President George W. Bush has decided to block U.S. funds to international family-planning groups that offer abortion and abortion counseling, a White House official said Monday.

The action, which reverses a Clinton administration stance, is among the first policy moves of the new Republican administration and was leaked on the same day that abortion opponents staged their annual march on Washington.

"The president does not support using taxpayer funds to provide abortions," press secretary Ari Fleischer said, refusing to speculate on any final decision to reverse the Clinton administration's position.

"It's an important issue," Fleischer told reporters. "Executive orders are possible at any time."

But a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the decision has been made and the executive order will be issued soon.

U.S. funds to international groups that support abortion had been blocked by former Presidents Reagan and Bush, in what became known as the Mexico City policy because it was announced by Reagan at a 1984 population conference there. President Bill Clinton, an abortion-rights supporter, had restored funding two days after he became president in 1993.

Also on Monday, Bush was delivering a statement to anti-abortion activists marching on the capital to mark the 28th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

The written statement would be read, Fleischer said, by Rep. Chris Smith, a Republican leader of the anti-abortion movement.

Asked why Bush wasn't delivering the statement himself, either in person or by telephone, Fleischer said Bush chose the manner in which to deliver his message and it "signifies that he has an important statement to make."

The politically and emotionally charged issue of abortion promised to test Bush's ability to deliver on his oft-repeated promise to unite Democrats and Republicans.

Since the election was decided, Bush has answered questions on the issue with a relatively tepid reminder: "As you know, I campaigned as a pro-life candidate."

But while he may not himself engage in the sound and fury of the activists who back him, Bush has nominated a staunch abortion opponent for attorney general, former Sen. John Ashcroft, and signaled swift action to reverse Clinton policies supporting access to abortion.

White House chief of staff Andrew Card served notice Sunday that several key abortion policies would be quickly reviewed by the Bush administration.

Asked about the recently approved RU-486 abortion pill, Card said, "We're going to take a look at all of the regulations. We're going to take a look at all the executive orders."

As for what the president might think of first lady Laura Bush's recent statement that she does not think Roe v. Wade should be overturned, Fleischer said Monday, "It's a personal matter."