Taking advantage of the pressure on lawmakers to pass the $388 billion dollar spending bill, which, if not passed, would cause a partial government shutdown, Republicans have managed to work some anti-abortion language into the bill, basically writing laws with spending bills.
"It's something we've had a longstanding interest in," said Douglas Johnson, a spokesman for the National Right to Life Committee. He added, "This is in response to an orchestrated campaign by pro-abortion groups across the country to use government agencies to coerce health care providers to participate in abortions."
The provision could affect millions of American women, according to Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California, who warned Friday that she would use procedural tactics to slow Senate business to a crawl if the language was not altered.
"I am willing to stand on my feet and slow this thing down," Ms. Boxer said. "Everyone wants to go home, I know that, and I know I will not win a popularity contest in the Senate. But they should not be doing this. On a huge spending bill they're writing law, and they're taking away rights from women."
It's probably too late, as the Senate is going to vote on this bill today, but it couldn't hurt to send Senator Boxer an email or call her office at (202) 224-3553 and tell her you support her in any attempts to block this provision.
Find your own member of Congress and let them know how you feel about this, too.
