In a horse-trade to get anti-abortion rabids led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to agree to payment of U.S. back dues to the United Nations (WFF 10/29), the Clinton Adminstration has agreed to allow tough new restrictions on international family planning groups to be written into law for the first time in history. Citing the need for maintaining America's global reputation by paying U.N. dues, Adminstration officials tried to minimize the sellout of women. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright claimed the effects of a ban on U.S. money going to international family planning groups promoting abortion rights would be minimal. Even if Clinton signs a waiver of the restrictions (which he says he will do), groups will lose $12 million that could have saved women's lives. Tell Albright (202-647-5291; fax 202-647-1533; e-mail [email protected]) and Clinton (202-456-1414; fax 202-456-2461; e-mail) that regardless of the financial impact, the anti-abortion lobby has scored a major victory with this capitulation.

As Congress rushed through last-minute deal making to get out of town before Thanksgiving, women lost in a number of ways. The Hate Crimes bill (WFF 10/15) was killed by the Republican leadership in the last minute, even thought moderates from both parties had requested a vote. No agreement was reached on the minimum wage (WFF 11/4), and an $800 million increase in child care funds was axed.

...and through crowded airports we go for Thanksgiving. No WFF next week.

HELP KUWAITI WOMEN GET THE VOTE

Last summer Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, decreed that women should have the vote and be able to run for public office. The decree has the force of the law until Parliament votes to approve or reject it. Parliament was supposed to vote this week, but backers of the measure delayed the vote for fear of defeat. WFF's sources in the U.S. Government tell us that letters to the Emir and to the Kuwaiti press from women around the world can definitely influence the debate. Most letters to the Emir or to Kuwaiti newspapers are published, and the Emir reportedly wants to point to world opinion in getting Parliament to uphold the decree. Women's organizations (and individuals) can write letters for the Emir or for Kuwaiti papers and send to the Kuwaiti Information Office at fax 202-388-0957; (e-mail [email protected]). Votes for women could come up again in the Kuwaiti Parliament as early as next week.

Thanks to WFF activists who called or faxed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging them to consider the nomination of former Senator Carol Moseley-Braun as ambassador to New Zealand (WFF 10/22). Over Helms' objections, the Committee voted 17-1 to send her nomination to the floor, where passage is virtually guaranteed. Calls count!

As WFF has reported (5/99), the Building Opportunities Bonus (BOB) (HR 699/S1069) gives bonuses to states that perform well in providing child care, sustainable wage jobs, and domestic violence protections for women leaving welfare. BOB now has a sister, "Bobette," which has similar provisions, but does not require a separate $1 billion appropriation, as big brother does. Introduced in the House as the Welfare Tracking Amendment (H.R. 3150) by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Bobette also includes rewards for states that excel in job training and medical care. Bobette needs co-sponsors in the House (202-225-3121 or send e-mail). On the Senate side, thank Senator Wellstone (D-MN; 202-224-5641; fax 202-224-8438; e-mail) for his untiring efforts to attach Welfare Tracking to appropriations bills, and urge him to keep on emphasizing the importance of Bobette provisions in welfare reform.

Lawmakers are still engaged in partisan posturing on appropriations bills, so they've passed another continuing resolution (until Nov. 10) to keep the government running. That could be good news for minimum wage workers (the majority of whom are female). Up to now, Republicans have insisted on extracting tax breaks for business as the price of a minimum wage increase, insuring a veto from President Clinton. Tell 'em to stop with the corporate welfare proposals and give low wage workers a break before the Thanksgiving break. (call 202-224-3121 or e-mail your Representative and Senator.) (Note: after the raise Congress gave itself earlier this year, it takes a member only 4.4 minutes to make what a minimum wage worker makes in one hour).