Senate Panel Urges Tests of French Abortion Pill

A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a watered-down resolution urging California to become a test site for use of the French abortion pill RU-486--but it took a courtesy “yes” vote from a senator who is opposed to abortions to do it.

A 5-0 vote sent the measure by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-S. San Francisco) from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to the Appropriations Committee. It passed the Assembly by a 46-22 vote.

Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh (D-Bonita) provided the crucial fifth vote on the nine-member upper house panel as a favor to Sen. Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier), who was absent with strep throat. With three other members also absent, it took yes votes from all five senators present to pass the measure.

In return for his vote, Deddeh succeeded in amending the resolution to remove emphasis placed on RU-486 testing for abortion purposes. Instead, the resolution emphasizes its potential usefulness in the treatment of major diseases.

Those diseases include breast, ovarian, brain and prostate cancers, AIDS and diabetes.

“I am still 100% opposed to abortion,” Deddeh said later, “but I got 90% of what I wanted, so I cast a courtesy vote for both Sen. Calderon and (for the benefit of) the author of the resolution.”

Speier said Roussel Uclaf, the French pharmaceutical firm that produces RU-486, doesn’t want to distribute the pill in the United States if there isn’t a “research-friendly environment.”

Testing of RU-486 is backed by the California Medical Assn., Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, the National Organization for Women and the California Abortion Rights Action League.

It is opposed by the National Right to Life Committee, the California Pro-Life Council and the Committee on Moral Concerns.