More anti-abortion activists facing suits

WICHITA, Kan. - The Justice Department under President BarackObama has taken a harder line against anti-abortion activistsaccused of trying to block access to clinics, suing at least a half-dozen of them under a federal law that lay mostly dormant during theBush administration.

The law, written to protect people who seek or provide abortions,was revived after Obama took office and in the wake of the 2009slaying of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller, who was shot todeath moments before Sunday services were to begin at his Wichitachurch.

Since Obama's inauguration, federal lawsuits have been filedagainst a woman who blocked a car from entering a clinic in WestPalm Beach, Fla.; a Texas man who threw his body across the door ofa patient waiting area in San Antonio; and a Pennsylvania man whoposted on the Internet the names and addresses of abortion providersand exhorted his readers to kill them.

Government records obtained by The Associated Press show that inslightly over two years, the Justice Department has filed sixlawsuits under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, mostlyto seek injunctions and fines. That compares with just one suchlawsuit during the entire eight years of George W. Bush.

Tiller's slaying "brought home to many of us the terriblepotential for violence and the need to use every legal means at ourdisposal to prevent it," said Barry Grissom, U.S. attorney forKansas.

President Bill Clinton signed the law in 1994 after a period thatincluded massive sit-ins at clinics, clinic bombings and other anti-abortion activities . The Clinton Justice Department filed 17 civillawsuits under the law during his remaining term.

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House OKs limits on abortion tax breaks

The House voted Wednesday to limit tax breaks for insurancepolicies that cover abortions.

The bill, which passed 251-175, has little chance of advancing inthe Democratic-controlled Senate, and the Obama administration hasthreatened to veto it.

Current law bars federal money for abortions, except when theprocedure is performed in cases of rape or incest or when aphysician certifies that a woman's life would be in danger if shecontinues the pregnancy. This bill would make that a federal law,rather than a provision added to other bills that must be voted onevery year.

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