DC Pays for Over 300 Abortions During Two Year Window

For decades Congress has used its power over the District of Columbia to ban the city from paying for abortions for poor women, but during a two-year period when lawmakers reversed course at least 300 women got city-funded procedures, according to data obtained by The Associated Press.

That period when the city was free to pay for abortions ended earlier this year. The city now says that during that time it spent approximately $185,000 providing elective abortions for poor women who receive health care through government programs. The number of women who got abortions and their cost was provided by city officials after AP filed a Freedom of Information Act request.

Officials in the heavily Democratic city have sparred for years with Congress over the city’s ability to cover the abortions with taxpayer money. During brief periods when Democrats have had control of the House, Senate and presidency, the city has been able to pay for them, but that ability has been taken away when Republicans and Democrats have shared power. The back-and-forth over the procedures is part of an ongoing struggle between local officials and Congress over control of city affairs.

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