Bush Threatens Veto Of Any Abortion Measure

In a preemptive move ahead of likely House action, President Bush vowed on Thursday to veto any measure allowing federal funding of abortions or for any organization that encourages them as a means of family planning.

“I am concerned that this year the Congress may consider legislation that could substantially change federal policies and laws on abortion, and allow taxpayer dollars to be used for the destruction of human life,” Bush said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The president’s threat comes on the heels of an earlier note from 155 House Republicans promising to sustain the veto if Bush uses it.

“This was a pre-emptive move to put them on notice,” one senior GOP leadership aide in the House wrote in an e-mail Thursday.

Bush sent his letter before the House considers a bill to fund the U.S. Agency for International Development. Republicans are concerned Democrats will use the measure to roll back a law prohibiting the agency from giving money to nongovernmental agencies that “perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning” in other countries.