Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Ph: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

House Passes Abortion Funding Bill

Measure Prioritizes Funding

For Immediate Release: February 2, 1998 Contact: Rep. Terry Martin at (907) 465-3783.

(JUNEAU) -- The Alaska House Monday passed House Bill 234, which gives abortion the lowest priority when there is inadequate funding for all procedures in the general relief medical program.

House Bill 234, sponsored by Representative Terry Martin (R-Anchorage) was amended to exclude cases in which pregnancy results from either rape or incest. The amendment passed on a 22-13 vote while the measure itself passed 24-11 on a reconsideration vote from Friday. The bill also includes and exception to save the life of the mother.

"This measure provides a new measure of logic and consistency to the state's abortion law by establishing the procedure's priority on the official list of medical procedures the state will pay for under the general relief medical program," Martin said.

"The governor has complained that the Legislature has not appropriated adequate funding in the program for the lowest priority items on the list. It makes no sense, then, for the state to not pay for such necessities as eyeglasses and emergency dental care for the poor and elderly while continuing to pay for free abortions," Martin said.

"The number of free abortions is increasing annually at a very fast pace. We are taking more and more monies away from seniors' medical needs to pay for free abortions that irresponsible males should pay for," Martin said.

The bill now goes on to the Senate for consideration.

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