UPDATE, 11:20a: To clarify, if this one-week CR is enacted, it will defund abortions in DC throughout the remainder of FY11, not just for one week.

11:01a: Read backstory here.

The Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee has introduced a third short-term Continuing Resolution, this time to keep the government going through April 15. The current CR expires April 8.

This CR slashes another $12 billion in spending.

As with the previous 2, this CR does not defund Planned Parenthood, but it does give pro-lifers something else of great substance: It reinstates the Dornan amendment (also known as the DC Hyde amendment and/or DC Abortion Ban), which ensures no congressionally appropriated funds (be they local or federal) will pay for abortion in the District of Columbia.

This policy was in place from Fiscal Years 96-09. President Obama and congressional Democrats only nixed this policy in FY10, the only year since FY96 the policy was not attached to the Financial Services Appropriations Act.

Inclusion of the Dornan amendment puts Democrats in a deliciously tough spot. It should not be a deal-breaker because President Obama himself signed the policy into law for FY09 and also voted to continue the policy twice while serving in the US Senate.

Other Democrat pro-abort notables who have previously signed the DC Abortion Ban:

  • Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin included the DC Abortion Funding Ban (Dornan amendment) in his own legislative text twice since Democrats gained control of the Senate in 2007. As Senate Majority Whip, Durbin has voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban 9 times since 1995.  Durbin also voted for the DC Abortion Funding Ban repeatedly in the 1980s.
  • President Clinton signed this policy into law 6 times.
  • Vice President Joe Biden voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban 7 times since 1995.
  • Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban 14 times since 1995. In just 4 years as Speaker of the House, Pelosi shepherded 3 bills continuing the DC Abortion Funding Ban for 3 separate fiscal years through the House.
  • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban 10 times since 1995.  Reid shepherded 3 bills continuing the DC Abortion funding ban for 3 separate fiscal years through the Senate in his just over 4 years as Majority Leader. Reid also voted for the DC Abortion Funding Ban in 1996 – the last time the issue was considered as an individual amendment. Reid also voted for the DC Abortion Funding Ban repeatedly in the 1980s.
  • Minority Whip Steny Hoyer voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban 18 times since 1995. As Majority Leader, Hoyer shepherded 3 bills continuing the DC Abortion Funding Ban for 3 separate fiscal years through the House.
  • Legislation containing the DC Abortion Funding Ban has received more than 150 Democrat votes in the House on 16 occasions since 1995.

It appears Republicans have Democrats over a barrel on this one. Still, pro-aborts will pitch a major fit. This could get interesting.

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