Obama Budget Proposal Preserves Abortion Funding Restrictions, Adds Pregnancy Prevention Funds

President Obama's fiscal 2010 budget proposal released on Thursday would eliminate funding for two abstinence-only sex education programs that total about $145 million, replacing them with funding for programs to prevent teenage pregnancy, the Washington Post reports (Montgomery/Goldstein, Washington Post, 5/8). Obama's budget proposal also includes a provision that would remove restrictions barring the District of Columbia from using its own public funds for abortion services. However, the proposal would leave in place restrictions on the use of federal money for abortion in the district and all 50 states, the Washington Times reports (Dinan/Emerling, Washington Times, 5/8).

Pregnancy Prevention

According to the AP/Google, Obama wants to cut funding that currently is directed for abstinence-only education under the direction of HHS' Administration for Children and Families. Obama would redirect the money toward a $110 million "teen pregnancy prevention initiative," with an additional $50 million going to states for pregnancy prevention programs (AP/Google, 5/8). According to the budget documents, $75 million in funds from the teen pregnancy prevention initiative would support proven teen pregnancy prevention programs and 25% of funds would be available for "promising models." The Post reports that abstinence programs considered to be promising models could continue to receive funding (Washington Post, 5/8).

Hyde Amendment

Some abortion-rights groups expressed frustration that Obama's budget proposal did not call for Congress to eliminate the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion. Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said, "For millions of women, federal programs are their only means of getting health care." She added, "Abortion is the only medically necessary health service excluded from Medicaid coverage. Failure to provide that service, a service that only women need, is discrimination." Abortion-rights advocates said they will press the Democratic-controlled Congress to go against Obama's proposal and end the federal restrictions. Meanwhile, Obama's budget aims to put Washington, D.C., in line with most states by proposing to remove a more than 10-year-old ban on local public funding for abortion services. According to the Times, the district currently is prohibited from spending any public funds -- federal or local -- on abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the woman. The change in policy would have to be approved by Congress, which has a constitutional role in overseeing the district. White House spokesperson Reid Cherlin said, "As a general rule, the president believes that states and localities should have the freedom to make this kind of funding decision at the local level" (Washington Times, 5/8).














Title X, Medicaid

Obama's proposal for the Health Resources and Services Administration would increase funding for Title X family planning projects by about $10 million, according to budget documents (FY 2010 budget appendix, 5/7). The overall HHS budget would remain largely flat, as the agency received billions in extra money under the economic stimulus law, CQ HealthBeat reports (Wayne, CQ HealthBeat, 5/7). BNA reports that the budget proposal would cut Medicaid and Medicare spending by $309 billion over 10 years as a way to help fund a $634 billion health care reserve fund, although some programs at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would see funding increases (BNA, 5/8).


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