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CNN Live At Daybreak

HHS Plan Spurs Sharp Reaction from Abortion Rights Activists

Aired February 01, 2002 - 05:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: What is in a name? Plenty, say abortion rights activists. They charge a Bush administration plan to change the federal definition of a child is really a step towards banning abortions.

But as CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace reports, the administration says it's only trying to help poor women.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here we go. That's a good heartbeat.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It doesn't sound controversial at first, using extra federal dollars to provide prenatal care to low income pregnant women.

TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: This is going to help poor mothers be able to take care of their unborn children and get the care that they absolutely, vitally need.

WALLACE: But here's where the debate begins. Tommy Thompson, the Health and Human Services Secretary, wants to change a federal regulation governing the state program that provides health care coverage to children. In a statement, his department said it wants to "clarify the definition of child," allowing states to provide health care to children "from conception to age 19." Currently, coverage starts after birth.

But abortion rights supporters argue this is a thinly veiled attempt to undermine a woman's right to choose.

KATE MICHELMAN, ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVIST: This policy reveals this administration's real interest in having government make abortions illegal and this is an interim step. Granting personhood to embryos will help accomplish that goal.

WALLACE: Thompson fired back, saying this is not about abortion rights, but health care.

THOMPSON: This is not an argument for the pro-choice or pro-life movements. This is not an ideological argument. This is to take care of poor mothers.

WALLACE: Bush advisers say there was no political calculation here, just a way to use some of the more than $3 billion that was available but not spent last year on children's health care. The move, though, is delighting abortion rights opponents, who call it a way to value and protect human life.

LAURA ECHEVARRIA, NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE: From our viewpoint, we need to do everything we can to make sure that children are protected.

WALLACE (on camera): After a 60 day comment period, the new policy would take effect. States could choose to participate or they could opt out. And federal officials say there is a precedent here, saying until 1981, developing fetuses were covered under Medicaid.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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