The House of Representatives retreated from its rigid antiabortion stance on the fiscal year 1980 District of Columbia appropriations bill and October 16th accepted an amendment that limits the bill's federal funds for abortions but does not impose any prohibition upon city-raised revenues. The Senate went along with the House "compromise" which limits use of the federal portion of the District's budget (about 15%) to abortion funding only in instances of life endangerment, rape or incest. Resolution of the abortion dispute enabled passage of the city's $1.4 billion budget. Until now, the District of Columbia paid for all medically necessary abortions for poor women. The funds used were locally raised revenue and that part of the city budget which came in the form of a federal payment. The new amendment, in effect, places the District in a situation similar to the 50 states -- the city may opt to fund abortions with state revenues in cases where the federal government refuses to pay. It is likely that the District will continue its liberal funding policy, but it is now required to institute a new accounting system to ensure that only city-raised revenues are being used for expenses relating to abortion.
