2 Tuesday, June 21, 1977 University Daily Kansan Medicaid for abortions hinges on state rulings BY LESLEY DELSNER N.Y. Times News Service N. Y. Times News Service WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court ruled yesterday, 6 to 3, that neither the Constitution nor current federal law requires states to spend Medicaid funds for elective abortions. funds for elective abortions: The court ruled by the same vote that cities and towns that have public hospitals are not required, under the Constitution, to provide or even permit elective abortions in those hospitals. The rulings do not mean that states must bar funds for abortions. They do mean, however, that all state and localities are -free if they wish and if their state laws and conditions permit- to bar the use of public funds and facilities for so-called "nontherapeutic" abortions. THE RULINGS MAY also mean that the federal government is free to bar the use of federal funds and resources for such abortions. use of more cases. The rulingsame in a trio of cases from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Michigan involved only state and local, rather than federal, efforts to limit public support of abortions. Undoubtedly, more litigation will be needed to clarify the full reach of the decisions. The logic that the court followed, however, seems as applicable to the federal government as to state and local bodies. tender. The point is critical, because Congress is currently considering proposals that would bar the use of federal funds for many and even all abortions. Yesterday's rulings suggest that a ban on all abortions, even those that are medically necessary, might be invalid. The decisions appear to clear the way, however, at least fora ban of funds for abortions that are not medically necessary. necessary, these are the biggest win so far in the effort by anti-b abortion forces to limit the births that made it a crime to give birth. The landmark 1973 decisions striking down laws that made it a crime to give birth have been successful. The decisions seem sure to have practical consequences for tens of thousands of women. Medicaid funds have paid $20 million for abortions for women in the Bronx. INDIGENT WOMEN WILL find it increasingly difficult to get abortions and some, as the court conceded, may find it impossible to get them. The rulings also appear to have sociological significance, because they affect the well-being and middle class women are not dependent on them. MEDICAL Legally, the rulings seem to change a law in the land started by the 1973 Supreme Court abortion decisions. Some of the lower courts that had ruled on the issues presented by the cases had reached a contrary verdict to the one the high court announced yesterday. Those lower courts had generally based their rulings on what they thought the Supreme Court's 1973 decisions required. tained. The majority Monday insisted that the court was standing by its 1973 abortion rulings. The decision, Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., wrote for the majority in the Connecticut case, "singals no retreat" from earlier rulings. An anti-abortion leader, the Rt. Rev. Mgr. James T. McHugh, director of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the National Council of Catholic Bishops, welcomed the decision. He said the ruling would help the family unit. Numerous groups and persons on the opposing side of the question including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) issued statements decrying the rulings. The tone of the statements declining the Ranges the tone of the statements ranged from angry to bitter to sad. The petition to the Court anti-abortion decision this morning was a national tragedy, forcing poor women into back alleys for their abortions. Joseph L. Gomez, the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, said: "WHAT TODAY'S DECISIONS do is re-establish pregnancy termination as a second-class medical service, unequal to pregnancy continuation, and the poor as second-class patients, unequal to the more affluent in their opportunities for service," said a statement from Planned Parenthood. The Medicare system was developed with provisions of the Social Security Act. The state set up their own programs within guilds and rules set out in the Civil Service Code to provide aid. Last year, Congress enacted an amendment to the Social Security Act, known as the Hydte Amendment after its sponsor, Rep. J. Henry, J.虹, Illinois, that barred the payment of Medicaid funds for abortions unless the abortion was necessary to save the life of the mother. However, that amendment has not been enforced. Last fall, responding to two lawsuits challenges the law, including one suit by New York City's Health and Hospital Corporation, a federal district court held the statute unconstitutional. Enforcement has been enjoined pending appeal. WHAT WAS BEFORE the Supreme Court yesterday was not this amendment, but the medical system as currently in effect, under the statute provided here. Various states under this system have, on their own, limited the use of funds for abortions. Pipeline's first day 'just ordinary' PRUDHOE BAY, Alaska (UPI)—With the flick of a switch yesterday, Alaska moved into the big-time energy business as the first crude oil from the huge Northern Slope reserves began flowing down the 800-mile trans-Alaska pipeline. After a jittery start and some minor spillage, a pump station technician named Fred Moore pushed the button that started the oil flowing into the 48-inch pipeline. Technicians clustered in the building where the biggest privately funded construction project—and one of the most controversial projects ever—opened for business. It will take at least 30 days for the oil, traveling at 1.1 miles an hour, to reach Valdez, Alaska, and fill the line to its 9.04 million-callon capacity. milchganghill MEANWHILE THE OIL will be paced by two company walkers checking to see whether gas goes wrong, by a clanking one-ton plastic "piig" designed to move through the pipe ahead of the oil and mark its progress. Despite all the hoopia, officials of the Alyske Pipeline Service Co., the consortium of eight firms that built the line, watched the whole thing yesterday with nonchalance. Nevertheless, there was excitement here as the "pig," a bullet-shaped device design meant to amplify radio signals and clunk inside the oil progresses, down the line. "A lot of us are standing around cool on the outside, but inside our heads there's a little man jumping around and a lot of elation," said Leland Myers, 27, at Salt Lake City. He has been on the line for the last 28 months and was here to watch the opening. "just another ordinary operational day," said an Allyses spokesman. "There's plenty of time for a celebration after it's all operating smoothly." The delivery of the oil into the pipeline marks the completion of a nine-year project that even its critics concede is an engineering marvel. FROM PRUDHOE BAY to Valdez the line twists and turns through three arctic mountain ranges, crosses four active earthquake fault zones and passes over nearly 800 rivers and streams. It has only a handful of men ever had visited before and crosses some of the most ecologically delicate landscape in the world. Attorney sees danger in jail move for Rav PETROTS, Tenn. (UPI)—James Earl Rarl would be in "grave danger" from those who want to keep secret the details of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination if he were transferred to a federal prison, Ray's attorney said Monday. An announcement is expected this week from Atty. Gin. Griffin Bell on a request by Tennessee Gov. Ray Blanton that federal authorities take custody of Roy Blanton, speaking at Atlanta, anthanogna, and a pastor, is a good request. "Bell would grant the request." Ray and five other convicts made a daring escape from Brushy Mountain State Prison June 10. Ray eluded a massive pursuit before he was run down by bloodhounds. The White House said yesterday the request for the government to take custody of Ray had been received by the Justice Department. Press Secretary Jody Powell said he had not asked whether President Jimmy Carter wanted the government to assume custody of Ray, which Blanton proposed after Ray's recent escape. "Ray will be in grave danger in a federal prison," Ray's last attorney, Jack Kershew of Nashville, said yesterday. "A contract would be put on him. He would be killed, and that would be the end of the Ray case." But Powell said Carter wanted the department to alter the matter "speedy and consideration." Asked who would arrange for such a "contract," Kershaw replied: "Whoever managed the killing of Dr. Martin Luther King." state officials from keeping Ray in solitary confinement. Kershaw is attempting to get a new trial for Ray, who is serving a 99-year sentence he received at Memphis on March 10, 1969, after pleading guilty to King's murder. King Blanton asked the federal government to take custody of Ray because of a federal court order which Blanton said prohibitea Three days later, Ray changed his story and said he did not fire the fatal shot that killed King as the civil rights leader stood on the balcony of a Memphis model. Ray has attempted to pike the assassination on Latin American known only as "Raoul." But, if the environmental impact of the pipeline has been enormous, the effect it has had on life in this sparcely populated state has been nothing short of explosive. NOTHING SACRED (1927) SUA FILMS Because of the pipeline, packs of prostitutes descended on sleepy Alaskan towns like Valdez and Fairbanks, glassy skyscrapers and traffic jams appeared in Anchorage, and Eskimos, some of who only the slippery ice on their feet, found, and landed high-paying construction jobs that let them buy color television sets. Dir. William Wellman, with Carole Lombard and Fredric March. March 20th. Screwball comedy, Wednesday. June 22, 7:30 p.m. Color $1. A BOY AND HIS DOG (1974) Winner of many awards. This imaginative and funny movie takes a bizarre look at sex and survival at 7 p.m., July 25, 7:40 p.m. Color $1.25 Woodruff Auditorium Kansas Union "We can never be the same," said Clark Grunewing, the 34-year-old grandson of the late Alascan Sen. Ernest H. Grunewing and a memorial donor of Represence from Anchorage. "The 20th century has moved in here very fast," said Gruneway. "We're going to have to be very aggressive and very vigilant as a state to guard our interests." Last year Granite led a successful drive to set up a permanent state fund to handle 25 per cent of Alaska's north alpine oil revenue. In 1985 the fund will contain about $6 billion. BUY ONE BURRITO, GET ONE FREE WITH COUPON! The burrito is a soft floor tortilla, covered with a thin layer of beans, lice meat, garnished with cheddar cheese, sauce and rolled. One offer per customer. Offer ends June 26, 1977. 2340 Iowa On Campus --presents a barbecue pig roast and smoked beef that's TONIGHT: Basketball intramurals will begin with games at 7:15 and 7:45 in Robinson Gymnasium. There be recital by faculty artists at 8 in Swarthout Recital Hall, in Murphy Hall. The recital is free and open to the public. TOMORROW: Orientation for liberal arts and science begins at 8:15 a.m. in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union. Volleyball intramurals will begin with games at 7:15 a.m. in Robinson and at 8:15 a.m. in SUA film, "Nothing Sacred," will be at 7:30 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Admission is $12. A NEW BREAKTHROUGH IN HUMAN POTENTIAL The TM program Develops Perfect Mind-Body Coordination Including Supernormal Powers Such As Levitation By Mere Intention, Invisibility, and Mastery Over the Laws of Nature. Enlightenment & Supernormal Abilities The Transcendental Meditation program Special Presentation by Executive Governors of the Age of Enlightenment personally trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Wednesday, June 22, 7:30p.m. FOR INFORMATION: 842-1225 Kansas Union Council Room ADMISSION : $2.00 ©1976 World Plan Executive Council—U.S. All rights reserved. World Plan Executive Council is a service of WPCW—u. n. prodeft educa tive. SANCTUARY Dinner Includes - BBQ - Baked Beans - Fresh Corn on the Cob Garlic Bread June 25 this SATURDAY 5-8:30 p.m. only at . . . 1401 W. 7th St.