By Mike Dorning
Washington Bureau

September 14, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Reaching out to more moderate, churchgoing voters with misgivings about abortion, House Democrats plan to unveil legislation on Thursday that sets a public policy goal of reducing abortions in America.

The proposal, to be announced at a news conference attended by the House Democrats' national campaign chairman, Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, would not restrict access to abortion. Instead, it promotes such preventive measures as funding for contraceptives and expanded sex education geared toward avoiding pregnancy as well as support for adoption and services to new mothers, according to several people familiar with the legislation.

The legislation targets voters who have concerns about abortion but who are not absolutely opposed to the procedure. Its introduction follows extended discussion in Democratic political circles about improving the party's image with traditionalist voters and public efforts by prominent Democrats to fashion an approach to abortion with broader appeal.

Seeking `common ground'

In January, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) urged the party to find "common ground" with abortion opponents. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) this summer chastised fellow Democrats for giving insufficient regard to "the power of faith."

The issue is delicate as the party seeks to address the ambivalence much of the American public feels toward abortion without offending a Democratic base that includes many passionate believers in abortion rights who are wary of any sign of a weakening in resolve to protect those rights.

The legislation will be announced less than eight weeks before the Nov. 7 midterm election in which Democratic hopes of wresting control of Congress depend in part on competing in socially conservative districts in states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Democratic Senate nominee in Pennsylvania, Bob Casey, opposes abortion rights.

Republicans in recent years have appealed to the unease over abortion felt by many moderates with such legislation as parental notification laws and the ban on certain late-term abortions that detractors labeled "partial-birth abortions."

Democrats hope the new legislative package will enable candidates to demonstrate that their party acknowledges the moral reservations that many Americans feel about abortion and has a plan to take positive steps to cut use of the procedure.

"From our perspective, it shows Democrats are changing the debate and making it a priority to reduce abortions in America while leaving personal liberties intact," said Rachel Laser, a policy analyst with the center-left group Third Way who was involved with preparation of the legislation.

The House legislation, which is to be co-sponsored by anti-abortion Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and abortion-rights supporter Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), avoids some of the divisive issues that have been in Democratic legislative packages introduced earlier in the year.

In contrast to a package introduced by anti-abortion Democrats this spring, the legislation doesn't include a provision to ban adults from transporting minors across state lines to avoid parental notification laws.

The legislation being introduced Thursday also leaves out some of the more controversial provisions on contraception included in another package proposed this year by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada. The Reid legislation would require private group health plans to include contraceptive coverage in prescription drug benefits.

Aid for low-income women

But the House Democrats' bill would considerably expand access to contraceptive services for low-income women. It calls for expanded funding to federal family planning programs and mandates that states provide contraceptive coverage to women with incomes up to twice the federal poverty level.

A congressional aide familiar with the legislation said the sponsors don't yet have a cost estimate for the measure.

According to descriptions from people who have seen the measure, the package also would provide grants for sex education with an "abstinence focus" but would require that the programs include complete instruction on contraceptives.

Abortion providers would be required to notify patients of procedure risks. In the past, abortion-rights groups have often fought such patient notification proposals because they considered the wording overly alarmist. But the abortion providers would fashion notifications with guidance from medical groups, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which does not oppose abortion rights.

There are also provisions for adoption tax credits, funding for nurses to make home visits for teenage and new mothers, funding for day-care programs and expanded funding for health care for low-income mothers and children.

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mdorning (at) tribune.com
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