President Obama Approves $400 Million in Tax Dollars for Abortions Around the World

On Friday, December 23rd 2009, President Barrack Obama made one of his first major acts as President by striking down a federal ban that George Bush had implemented in 2001. The ban has been known as the “Mexico City Policy” and has a deep history with the changing of party’s in the executive branch.

First banned by President Reagan in 1984, former President Bill Clinton lifted the ban in 1993. Then as expected, President Bush banned the policy in 2001. Each time this ban has either been enforced or lifted it has always come around the anniversary of Roe v Wade. President Obama continued the trend by lifting the ban one day after the anniversary of Roe v Wade.

By doing so President Obama is already receiving criticism from both sides. With all of the economic problems in the United States, many are worried that President Obama would be so quick to approve over $400 million in tax dollars per year to be donated to abortion organizations around the world. Many liberal democrats argue that the bill is good for women’s reproductive rights around the world and that the ban by Bush was a road block in making strides for better foreign relations.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had this to say. “Rather than limiting women’s ability to receive reproductive health services, we should be supporting programs that help women and their partners make decisions to ensure their health and the health of their families,”
Critics of the ban had long argued that the ban was discriminating against the world’s poor and denied US aid to groups that, though are heavily involved in abortion, also provide “family assistance planning”. However, conservatives were quick to express their concern and disapproval.

“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.

Many pro-life politicians argue that the US already provides a substantial amount of money to organizations around the world that assist in family planning. The difference in the two are simply that the organizations we already provided funding for did not promote or offer abortion as a primary solution. The decision to lift the ban struck a personal chord with citizens who are pro-life.

“Coming just one day after the 36th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision, this presidential directive forces taxpayers to subsidize abortions overseas – something no American should be required by government to do,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

President Obama did this in private on Friday and many believe he did this in hopes of not drawing negative attention. With the media not specifically covering such an issue it leaves the American people blind to his current actions and still hypnotized to his strong promises to repair the economy.