Abortion Rights Advocates Call For Congressional Democrats To Boost Family Planning Access, Change Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs

Some abortion rights advocates have called for Democratic members of the 110th Congress to expand access to family planning services for low-income women, as well as to make changes to the Bush administration's abstinence education programs, the Los Angeles Times reports. According to the Times, advocates supporting the Democratic Party are calling for "ambitious -- and politically provocative -- actions on ... abortion" and other issues, and the party faces a "difficult struggle" of maintaining its "core supporters" while trying not to "undermine" the party's hopes of "solidifying [its] new majorities." The Planned Parenthood Federation of America has said that victories of Democratic candidates in conservative states -- as well as South Dakota voters' rejection of a law (HB 1215) that would have banned all abortions in the state except to save the pregnant woman's life -- should result in "Democrats view[ing] their causes as mainstream, rather than part of a liberal agenda," the Times reports. PPFA President Cecile Richards said, "I honestly believe there was no bigger winner in this election than Planned Parenthood Action Fund and women's health." PPFA is calling on Congress to devote more federal funding for contraception and other family planning programs. Other advocates are calling for action to reduce the scope of the Bush administration's abstinence education programs. Abortion rights advocates will present a challenge to likely future House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and likely future Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who each have said they plan to "govern from the center," the Times reports (Wallsten/Hook, Los Angeles Times, 11/12).

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