Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992 TAG: 9203050114
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The first skirmish between abortion-rights advocates and anti-abortion forces took place Wednesday at a hearing by a House Judiciary subcommittee on a one-page bill that has escalated the controversy.
For the first time in almost two decades, legislation has been proposed that raises the ultimate issue in the dispute: Should women have a right to abortion?
The key sentence in the bill reads: "A state may not restrict the right of a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability; or at any time, if such termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman."
That the congressional debate begins as the Supreme Court prepares to review a key Roe vs. Wade challenge is the result of strategy.
The court will hear arguments in the case April 22. .Announcement of its decision is expected by July.
Anticipating that a court ruling in the Pennsylvania case could give states wide latitude to erase protections in the 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling, abortion-rights advocates hope to pass a federal law that would secure a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy no matter how the justices decide.
Leading lawmakers on both sides of the debate say they welcome a showdown on an issue that already is part of the 1992 presidential campaign. But many other members of Congress are horrified at the notion of being forced to take a stand on such a volatile issue so close to the November elections.
President Bush said Tuesday he would veto the legislation if Congress passes it. The five Democratic presidential contenders, in contrast, all have endorsed it.
With the backing of the House Democratic leadership, the measure is expected to be approved swiftly by the House Judiciary Committee and sent to the floor for a decision by the entire 435-member body this spring. A similar bill is being advanced in the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee by its chairman, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
Proponents of the bill assume that the conservative-dominated court will erode the rights granted in the historic Roe vs. Wade decision, handed down by a far more liberal court, or even strike down the ruling.
While supporters say the legislation would make the 1973 ruling into law before the court can act, opponents insist it actually would expand the decision, permitting abortion regardless of the age of the expectant mother or the length of her pregnancy.
But defenders of abortion rights contend they are only trying to save the Roe precedent.
"Unless we move ahead at this time, Roe could go down the drain," said Rep. Don Edwards, D-Calif., chief sponsor of the bill and chairman of the subcommittee conducting hearings on it. "This could very well be the last good Congress we'll have in many years [on abortion rights issues]. You either do the right thing or you don't."
Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., chief spokesman for anti-abortion forces, relishes the thought of a showdown with his long-time foes, telling a reporter: "They're putting their pro-abortion members at political risk and I say hallelujah to that."
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.