Pro-life activists were heartened by yesterday's decision of President Obama not to overturn the Mexico City Policy, which prevents all federally funded NGOs from performing or promoting abortion overseas. But today is a new day.
According to a senior White House official, the president will sign an executive order reversing the policy later today.
The policy, known by critics as "the Global Gag Rule," was initially introduced by President Reagan in 1984, but reversed by President Clinton in January of 1993. President Bush reinstated it in 2001 as his first executive order, and many expected President Obama to repeal the order again early in his presidency.
This strikes a blow to many pro-life activists, who see this as a global, not just a domestic expansion of abortion policies. They're expecting further changes as well, though the president is not expected to push for the Freedom of Choice Act, which would promote the greatest expansion of abortion rights.
Rather than focusing on social issues, the president has said that he wants to concentrate on the economy and national security.