An embarrassed Michael Steele has ordered elective abortion to be stripped from services covered by medical insurance offered to RNC employees. The ban, prompted by a Politico report yesterday that abortion coverage has been included in RNC policies since 1991, brings the RNC in line with what the Republican Party has been fighting for in the health care debate.
"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose. I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration," Steele said in a statement. "Consider this issue settled," he said, although pro-choice advocates and outraged right-wingers, some of whom are calling for the RNC to return donations made since 1991, seem unlikely to let it rest. (More Michael Steele stories.)