DC mayor planning response to GOP abortion inquiry

Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray (D) is preparing a response to last week's letter from House and Senate Republicans requesting "detailed information" about how he will comply with a ban on taxpayer-funded abortions in the District.

The ban was reinstated earlier in the month when Congress approved a spending bill for the remainder of FY 2011, H.R. 1473. Part of the agreement between the White House and Congress was to reinstate the so-called Hyde amendment for the District, but Republicans in an April 19 letter noted that D.C. has not always complied with the prohibition in the past.

Republicans also said they were "disappointed" that the mayor's office has ignored "repeated requests" in the past for information about abortion funding, although Gray's office said a response would be forthcoming.

"Unlike previous administrations, Mayor Gray will send a response," his office said. "Since receiving the first letter in January, the Mayor's staff have been in communication with congressional staff about this issue." Gray has been in office since Jan. 2, after winning an uncontested election in November.

The GOP letter drew a sharp response from abortion-rights advocates, in part because it criticized past failures to comply with the law.

"We do not anticipate that this situation will occur again, but in light of this history, we ask that you provide detailed information outlining what steps you are taking to ensure that no more public funds are used to pay for elective abortion in D.C.," the letter said.

In addition to stressing the importance of acting "immediately to respect and faithfully implement the law," the letter asked for "detailed information about abortion funding in the District during the period in which the D.C. Hyde amendment was not in place."

The letter requested a response from Gray by May 6 and was led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). A total of 10 senators and 84 House members signed the letter.