Abortion Debate Stalls Senate Effort on Central America Aid

A heated dispute over abortion stymied Senate efforts today to finish legislation providing nearly all of the emergency aid President Bush has sought for Nicaragua and Panama.

The $720 million in aid is contained in a $2.3-billion supplemental spending bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee with an amendment allowing the District of Columbia to use local tax money to finance abortions.

Bush vetoed the district’s appropriations bill last year because it contained the same provision, and is virtually certain to veto the spending bill if it includes the abortion language.

The Senate bill provides the full $300 million sought by Bush for Nicaragua and $420 million of the $500 million he wants for Panama. The House earlier approved the same aid totals, which Bush finds acceptable, but did not include the abortion provision.

The Senate three times today voted against removing the language. However, the Senate still faces a final vote on the question, threatening further delays in aid that Bush had hoped to have in time for Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro’s inauguration Wednesday.