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Drop In U.S. Births Began Before Recession, Census Data Show

Newly released Census Bureau data show that even before the current economic recession began in September 2008, population growth among children younger than age one began to decline, the AP/Kansas City Star reports. Between July 2007 and July 2008, the number of children younger than age one in the U.S. increased 0.9%, compared with a record 2.7% increase the previous year. Although births tend to drop during economic downturns as more people decide that they cannot afford to support children, experts said it is not clear why the recent drop began months before the current recession emerged. Stephanie Ventura, a demographer for the National Center for Health Statistics, said that it will be impossible to know what factors contributed to the change until demographic breakdowns are available later this year. The AP/Star reports that increases in teenage births had been driving up birth rates in recent years.Historically, birth rates have declined during poor economic times -- including the recessions of 1973, 1982 and 2001 -- and births dropped nearly 26% during the Great Depression. Mark Mather, an associate vice president at the Population Research Bureau, said, "The economy does matter. If prospects look worse for families, they"re going to be very likely to have fewer kids" (Yen/Wagster Pettus, AP/Kansas City Star, 5/19).
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Obama Says Lawmakers Should Not Become Sidetracked By Abortion Debate In Health Reform

In an interview with CBS" "Evening News" on Tuesday, President Obama said that lawmakers should "not get distracted by the abortion debate" as they weigh health reform legislation. When asked by "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric if he would "favor a government option that would cover abortions," Obama replied that what he thinks is "important, at this stage, is not trying to micro-manage what benefits are covered." He added that his "main focus is making sure that people have the options of high-quality care at the lowest possible price." Obama also said, "As you know, I"m pro-choice. But I think we also have the tradition of, in this town, historically, of not financing abortions as part of government-funded health care." He continued that "[r]ather than wade into that issue at this point, I think it"s appropriate for us to figure out how to just deliver on the cost savings, and not get distracted by the abortion debate at this station" (Couric, "Evening News," CBS, 7/21).