4 DC Vote Advocates Arrested in Protest of Budget Bill

Bill bans D.C. from funding abortions for poor women

Four people, including a man on a hunger strike, were arrested during a protest of a federal budget bill that would restrict the way the District can spend local tax dollars.

A bill passed by the House on Friday bans the District of Columbia from funding abortions for poor women.

Congress re-imposed the ban in April as part of a deal that averted a federal shutdown. Over the past two decades, the District has only been free to spend money on abortions when Democrats have controlled the presidency, the Senate and the House.

D.C. Vote, which advocates for the district, organized the protest outside a House office building.

A U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman said the four were arrested for allegedly obstructing passage on U.S. Capitol grounds.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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