The House Appropriations Committee tonight voted down the "Tiahrt-Davis" Amendment, an effort by anti-choice forces in Congress to reinsert a rider into the District of Columbia’s federal funding allocation that would have prohibited local funds from being used to help low-income women access medically necessary abortions.

Both Chairman David Obey (D-WI) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz spoke in opposition to the amendment.  

Among those voting for the amendment (against allowing the District to use its funds to support the choices of low-income women) were Representatives Berry (D, AR); Kaptur (D, OH); Kirk (R, IL); Mollohan (D, WV); Murtha (D, PA).

Among those voting against the amendment or casting pro-choice votes were Representatives Boyd (D, FL); Chandler (D, KY); Frelinghuysen (R, NJ); Ryan (D, OH); and Salazar (D, CO). 

The struggle to allow DC to provide this funding to low-income women will move to the Senate Appropriations Financial Services subcommittee, which marks up its
bill tomorrow (Wednesday, July 8th).  Advocates are watching whether the Chair, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) strips the restriction from his version of the bill.  That version will move to the full Senate Appropriations Commitee on Thursday, where again there may be efforts to keep or reinsert the rider.

A vote on appropriations by the full House of Representatives is scheduled for late next week, and there again, advocates expect a fight.

Rewire will keep you posted.