More recent objections have been made by anti-choice legislators who refuse to pay U.S. debts because some UN health programs include abortion as an option in family planning decisions. Lowey noted that the UN has maintained a no-growth budget for four years, created an office of the Inspector General to oversee finances, and shed 1000 people from its staff. Hall addressed the issue of paying UN debts and opposing certain family planning programs. I believe that the linking of abortion and paying UN arrears does not add up. It's a stretch and should not be linked.
Great nations pay their bills.
Hall recently introduced an amendment to the legislation that would appropriate money to the UN regardless of its family planning programs. Although it was narrowly defeated, the amendment and its growing bipartisan support are sources of increasing optimism for legislators trying to end the UN debt problem. Last year Congress passed an appropriations bill for UN arrears but included language on the controversial domestic political issue of abortion that had nothing to do with the United Nations arrears forcing President Clinton to veto the bill.