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Contraceptive Measure Dropped from Stimulus
January 27, 2009 3:51 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports:
House Democrats have agreed to drop family planning funds for the low-income from an $825 billion economic stimulus bill.
The contraceptive provision was dropped after President Barack Obama placed a call to Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., on Monday. Waxman is the chairman of the committee that inserted the contraception provision into the stimulus package last week.
Obama asked him to remove the measure from the bill, according to a Democratic congressional aide familiar with the call, and the decision was made by House Democrats on Tuesday to do so.
Under the scuttled contraceptive provision, states would have been able to offer family planning services -- including contraceptives -- under Medicaid, the government health program for the poor, without having to obtain federal permission.
Now that the provision has been dropped, states will need to seek a federal waiver before being allowed to use Medicaid to provide family planning services and supplies to low income women.
Controversy over the contraception provision was sparked over the weekend when George Stephanopoulos asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about it on ABC's "This Week."
"Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?" asked Stephanopoulos.
"Well, the family planning services reduce cost," said Pelosi. "They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those -- one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government."
"So no apologies for that?" asked Stephanopoulos.
"No apologies," said Pelosi. "No. We have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy. . . ."
Read the full transcript here.
UPDATE:
During Tuesday's briefing with reporters, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that President Barack Obama approves of the contraceptive measure but conveyed to Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., by phone on Monday
that the stimulus package was not the right place for it.
"The president called Chairman Waxman yesterday and said that while he believed that the policy of increased funding for family planning was the right one, that he didn't believe this bill was the vehicle to make that happen," said Gibbs.
ABC News' David Chalian contributed to this report.
January 27, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (182)
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At least we don't have a rubber stamp Congress anymore.
Posted by: Reason | Jan 27, 2009 4:10:09 PM
If Obama put "Paying for Abortions in Foreign country's in the stimulus package"
Wonder what other hidden things Obama put in it.
Posted by: wolf cry | Jan 27, 2009 4:13:01 PM
President Obama is ANNOYING ME beyond belief, i voted for him he does have a mandate to go out and get things done .
president Obama if you have the VOTES just go out and get the BILLS pass , who cares what person or party didn't get involve.. time is wasting.
The GOP is playing games as usual with politics and thats expected, you look weak just following them around SIR, you have the majority start acting like it.
Posted by: mary | Jan 27, 2009 4:13:31 PM
They need to send the contraceptives to Africa instead of hundreds of millions of tax dollars. When are we going to get something for our money? Bush told us to tighten our belts and at the same time gave away 100's of billions of aid to Africa with no strings.The birth rate is 8 children per woman.
Ex Republican
Posted by: RGeier | Jan 27, 2009 4:18:09 PM
Has anyone brought up the automatic raise that Congress now gets?? Should they vote to rescind their increase in view of the fact that all their constituents are losing their jobs wouldn't that save some money?? And shouldn't this be made transparent again, congress voting on their own raises instead of it being automatic??
Posted by: Paulet | Jan 27, 2009 4:19:21 PM
I still don't understand why entitlement payments are made to people who never contributed to Social Security. That would definitely add to the bottom line PLUS send a message to play by the rules.
Posted by: Anelon | Jan 27, 2009 4:21:34 PM
Paulet... Has anyone brought up the automatic raise that Congress now gets??
They would never do that. And you better believe it they always throw a raise in every bill that gets put in front of them.
Posted by: animal cracker | Jan 27, 2009 4:25:01 PM
Anelon.... I still don't understand why entitlement payments are made to people who never contributed to Social Security
Obama has his African Grandmother over here illegally collecting welfare and free housing and food. ANd she does not work just like Obama.
Posted by: animal cracker | Jan 27, 2009 4:26:50 PM
Mary, ever heard of a "filibuster", just because the republicans are in the minority doesn't mean they can't disrupt everything. Remember, they place the country last in any decisions they make and would rather have Obama and the democrats fail, even if it takes down the US with them.
Posted by: JR | Jan 27, 2009 4:31:25 PM
animal cracker, the only people that can get Social Security are people that qualify, as in having worked and paid into it for a least 40 quarters, you bonehead neo-con git.
Posted by: JR | Jan 27, 2009 4:33:29 PM
nancy pelosi thinks u can eat condoms i guess
now remove the money for acorn or no package dude
Posted by: ABC-n-the -tank-4-obama | Jan 27, 2009 4:46:35 PM
ABC may as well join the ranks of big mouths like Limbaugh
Posted by: ABC-way-too-critical-of-Obama | Jan 27, 2009 4:59:54 PM
JR,
Nice to know that Democrats "ALWAYS" put country first!. Just like when Barney Frank led opposition to regulating Freddie/fannie!...We all know he wqs really just looking out for the country! Thatone worked out Real Well...Didn't it !!!
Posted by: Mike_C | Jan 27, 2009 5:08:44 PM
Mary,
Milions to give away condoms is stilulus alright! - Just NOT the stimulus we need right now!
Also 200 million to groom up the Nation Mall is not helping those 75,000 who lost their jobs yesterday!
I could be wrong though, Maybe thats part of the money that Robert Reich wants earmarked for everyone except while construction workers! Someone go look under a table and find Reich and ask him!
Posted by: Mike_C | Jan 27, 2009 5:12:17 PM
JR.. as in having worked and paid into it for a least 40 quarters, you bonehead neo-con git.
You need to check up on Obama's grandmother who is over here illegally not working and never worked in this country collecting welfare
Posted by: animal cracker | Jan 27, 2009 5:13:06 PM
JR:"Mary, ever heard of a "filibuster", just because the republicans are in the minority doesn't mean they can't disrupt everything." -- No problemo. We just use the nuclear (or new-que-ler) option and get rid of the filibuster. The white-wingers were itching to do it when they were in power and will not hesitate to do so if they have the chance again. Just get rid of it now and the he11 with what the conservocrappers want.
Posted by: Mangey1 | Jan 27, 2009 6:06:06 PM
Good for Mr. Obama!!! What does a contraceptive measure have to do with the stimulus?
Posted by: Dan Kolich | Jan 27, 2009 7:28:49 PM
Those libs. Ya gotta love em' They make killing babies seem like selecting what ice cream to buy.
Posted by: Ace Cool | Jan 27, 2009 7:36:58 PM
"Those libs. Ya gotta love em' They make killing babies seem like selecting what ice cream to buy." -- As opposed to the cons who love to save the fetus so they can enjoy murdering it in once it's a living, breathing, human being. For conservatives of any religion, torture and godliness go hand in hand. Amen!
Posted by: Mangey1 | Jan 27, 2009 8:00:47 PM
Well all wanted this change change change.. and what you landed up is worse then what was in there... as my forthher said I rather face the SS and Kastopo then what is being elected in now.. this is a price we all will pay because all have forgotten about self responsibility and want others to fix the mess they got into.... wealth is great but the ones that was yipping bout money where told shut up.. all the way back to 02 and those that told them to sutup are in charge..
Posted by: ed | Jan 27, 2009 8:03:39 PM
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