A New York Times headline, November 10, 1988, read “3 State Referendums Give New Impetus to Anti-Abortion Efforts,” and the journalist commented on speculations by political analysts whether these three pro-life victories indicate “the shift in public attitudes towards abortion.”
At present, federal law in the United States prohibits Medicaid funds to be used for abortion, except when the mother’s life is in jeopardy. In addition to the federal ban, 37 of the fifty states either have no programmes to pay for abortions or have state legislation banning the use of state funds for abortion. On Tuesday, November 8, 1988, three states held referendums, in conjunction with the federal and state election, to ban, or to uphold previous measures which banned state funding for abortion.
After 17 years of struggle and frustration, of passing legislation with subsequent vetoes on legislation, Michigan pro-lifers managed to have a referendum to ban state funding for abortion. An exception was made for the life of the mother. The pro-life motion passed by 58 to 42 per cent of the vote.
The Colorado referendum was an attempt to overturn the ban on financing abortions, passed in 1984. The attempt failed, and 60 per cent of the voters made sure the ban remained.
Arkansas does not pay for abortions, and the pro-0life referendum was for an “unborn State Constitution. The Amendment defines life as “beginning at conception,” and bans the use of state money to pay for abortions. It passed 52 to 48 per cent of the votes.
Political reporters said that the Amendment generated as much interest as the Presidential campaign in Arkansas, as pro-life workers struggled to get information to the voters. It is probably no coincidence that Arkansas, which is usually regarded as the safest Democratic state of the South voted Republican this year: Bush 57 per cent; Dukakis 43 per cent.
