The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.60/No.25           June 24, 1996 
 
 
Virginia Governor Bans Abortion Insurance  

BY BRIAN WILLIAMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite majority sentiment by working people in support of a woman's right to choose abortion, capitalist politicians continue to chip away at this right.

In early June, Virginia governor George Allen unilaterally rescinded insurance coverage of abortion procedures for the state's 100,000 government workers and their families. Reversing two decades of state policy, the Republican governor's order bans coverage except for instances of rape and incest. "There's no reason that taxpayers should subsidize it," Allen declared. "It's contrary to what I think is proper policy for government."

State workers in Virginia must use their own funds to buy coverage for dependents. Now abortion insurance for wives and daughters will be unavailable even when a family member on the payroll is willing to pay the full cost.

In Wisconsin the state legislature passed on April 30 one of the most restrictive laws in the nation aimed at limiting a woman's right to choose. This measure requires women seeking abortions to meet with a doctor at least two times, receive verbal and written counseling, and wait 24 hours before proceeding. The law also makes mandatory the distribution of a booklet to all women considering getting an abortion that shows various pictures of a fetus.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the state of Wisconsin from enforcing the new law. A U.S. district court will hold a hearing June 17 to determine whether the law should be put into effect.

Shortly after signing this restrictive law, Wisconsin's Republican governor, Thomas Thompson, urged party leaders to modify their stance on this issue to accommodate abortion rights supporters at the Republican national convention in August.

In a recent interview with the ABC television network, Republican presidential candidate Robert Dole also attempted to cater his remarks towards the sizable number of Republicans who remain pro-choice. "We can have diversity in our party," he stated. "I don't want to build a fence around our party and say everybody has to agree with me on this issue."

Dole then proceeded to issue a formal statement June 6 making it clear that he would "not seek or accept a retreat" from the current platform plank condemning abortion and pledging to seek a constitutional amendment to outlaw it.

Patrick Buchanan hailed Dole's statement "as expressing support for a pro-life plank that is undiluted or unaltered in any way."

An article in the Washington Post, noted that Dole's statement "seemed to be trying to square a circle. He is attempting to welcome moderates who support abortion rights, while at the same time insisting that the ban cannot be abandoned or in any way weakened."

Brian Williams is the Socialist Workers candidate for city council at-large in Washington, D.C.  
 
 
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