European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes saturday August 4,1990-Era restrictions by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a the Senate on Friday shot Down a proposal to reverse a 1988 Reagan administration policy that severely restricts All abortions in military medical facilities overseas. The proposal from sen. Tim Wirth d-colo., was offered As an amendment to the Senate s fiscal 1991 defense authorization Bill it would have allowed abortions in military facilities if individuals paid for them. Since the policy change two years ago the Only abortions that have been allowed in military clinics arc those in which the mothers life is endangered. There was an average of 15 to 20 abortions per year in overseas clinics before the change Wirth said. The amendment touched off a fiery debate among advocates and opponents of abortion that lasted More than an hour and a half. In the end its supporters failed by two votes to Muster the required 60 needed to Cut off further debate and Force a Quick decision on the amendment a procedure known As cloture. After a Challenge from sen. Gordon Humphrey r-n.h., who vowed to Intro Duce More than a dozen related amendments and launch a filibuster on the last scheduled Day of work before the Senate a August recess Wirth withdrew his proposal. Humphrey and sen. Bob Dole r-kan., warned that president Bush had vowed to veto the entire authorization Bill if the Wirth amendment won approval. Wirths interest in the Issue was sparked by a letter from Navy Petty officer 2nd class Charles Zwierzynski. The sailors wife Kaoru underwent an abortion in the fifth month of her pregnancy in August 1989 when Navy and japanese doctors found that the fetus had numerous serious birth defects. Doctors recommended terminating the pregnancy because the baby was Likely to be bom dead or die shortly after birth. But because the pregnancy did not threaten the mothers health she could not have the abortion in a military clinic. The couple drained their savings account to pay the $2,400 Cost for an abortion in a japanese facility. Wirth and sen. John Glenn a Ohio a co sponsor of the amendment said the amount was far More than the Cost would have been in a military facility. Quot this amendment would allow those stationed overseas to use military medical facilities for the full Range of reproductive health services permitted under . Law a a Wirth argued. Despite wide ranging debates on abortion in Congress the Law states that abortions Are Legal if individuals pay for them Wirth said. The military a policy forces women to obtain abortions off base in countries where health care standards often arc woefully inadequate or forces them to travel to the United states at enormous expense he said. Quot this is about restoring equal rights for military members Ana their dependents Quot he said a it is not a Complex Issue it does not get into Public funding for abortion. It simply allows our More than i million personnel and dependents overseas the same rights As people in the United . Calling the current policy a truly discriminatory and unfair Quot Glenn said the 1988 change was not a reaction to Public pressure or any new Law but simply reflected a judgment by the administration at that time. A the Pentagon and the administration demonstrated Gross insensitivity to the needs of our military personnel and their families overseas with that policy change Glenn said. The most vocal opponent of the amendment was sen. Dan Coats r-ind., who called the proposal Quot unnecessary and  there have been no formal complaints against the policy no Legal challenges and no overseas military personnel or family members have been denied leave or military transport for the purposes of obtaining an abortion he said. A the Bottom line is that the need for the legislation is not proven. We should not allow a defense Bill As a vehicle for making social policy Quot Coats said. Humphrey acknowledged that making female military personnel and family members travel to another location on military aircraft to have abortions might be inconvenient. A but there is no obligation on the part of the government to make abortion convenient any More than there is an obligation on the part of the government to pay for abortion Quot he said. A noteworthy hat tuba player Rennie Guenther uses some oomph Protection during a summer Shower thursday in san Antonio. Guenther of the bavarian Village band from new braunfels Texas was attending the opening ceremonies of the 19th annual i o in life festival in san Antonio. Landmark civil rights Bill wins House of despite veto threat Washington apr the House approved a landmark civil rights Bill Friday brushing off a last minute veto threat by president Bush who contends the legislation a provisions for minority hiring would Lead to quotas. Quot stand up for what you know is right stand up for americans values Quot rep. Richard Gephardt a Mon a urged As the House approved the Bill 272-154. The measure goes to a House Senate conference committee where prospects for Compromise appear Good. The Senate two weeks ago approved a similar version. A approval came minutes after release of a letter from Bush threatening a veto and offering to sign an alternative version that he called a a sound practical  he said that without changes the Bill a will have the effect of forcing businesses to adopt quotas in hiring and  a it will also Foster divisiveness and litigation rather than conciliation and do More to promote Legal fee. Than civil rights Quot Bush said. The alternative was rejected however As the House pressed ahead with the measure. The legislation would effectively overturn five supreme court decisions last year and tops the civil rights Community a congressional list. Major provisions Range from a ban on racial harassment in the workplace to barriers to reopening court approved agreements on fair hiring. The alternative version proposed by rep. John la Falce d-n.y., and praised by Bush would have tempered language designed to make it easier to win Job Bias suits against employers based on statistics. It also would have capped at $100,000 punitive damages for intentional discrimination that courts could award to women religious minorities and the disabled. The Bill places no limit on such damages. The Cap approved 289-134, would limit punitive damages for women who Are victims of intentional Job discrimination to $150,000 or the amount of compensatory damages whichever is larger. Women a rights groups say there should be no Cap because unlimited punitive damages Are allowed in cases of racial discrimination. Gop candidates must await tally in Tennessee primary for Senate Nashville Tenn. Apr two candidates in a Down to tie wire gop primary for the right to Challenge incumbent Democrat sen. Albert Gore or. Must wait until next week to find out the outcome of the election. About 3,000 votes in Madison county will not be tabulated until monday said Madison county registrar Spence Dupree. A a we re going to count it As soon As we can but we be got every county position except for tax assessor to count first Quot Dupree said. He said the county races would be tabulated first. As late returns came in Friday Only 11 votes separated the two leading gop contenders so the Madison. County votes could determine the Winner. With 2,293 of 2,415 precincts counted or 95 percent bankrupt businessman Ralph Brown led conservative political economist William Hawkins. Brown had 50,189 votes and Hawkins 50,178 votes or 39 percent Lor both. In other races the states Only Black congressman crushed two democratic challengers in his second reelection Campaign conducted under the Cloud of a Federal Bank fraud indictment. Gore 42, ran unopposed for the democratic berth and was expected to handle easily whichever Republican he faces in the nov. 6 general election. He garnered 424,747 votes with 100 percent of the precincts in. Gov. Ned Mcwherter received 376,123 democratic votes and will face Dwight Henry a Republican freshman state lawmaker who suspended his Campaign in june and resumed it less than a week before the election at the request of legislative colleagues. . Rep. Harold Ford Defeated state rep. Pam Gaia and Memphis businessman Mark Flanagan for the democratic nomination. With 116 of 187 precincts counted Ford had 28,380 votes or 78 percent to 6,946 votes or 19 percent for Gaia. Flanagan had 1,-01 Voles or 3 percent Ford 45, will face Republican Aaron c. Davis a 79-year-old political newcomer in the general election. He was indicted by a Federal grand jury in 1987 on Bank and mail Traud charges. Jurors deadlocked in april alter an 11-week trial. Prosecutors say a second trial w ill be held but no Date has been scheduled. All nine of the states congressional representatives Are up Lor re election but Only one beside Ford faced primary opponents. .