In this discussion of the form that a consistent politically and morally acceptable publicly debated government policy on the availability of abortion services might take in the U.S. the author recognizes that no position will be fully acceptable to both pro and anti abortion groups and that neither polar position has the overwhelming support needed to implement its goals completely. It is also apparent that there is no possibility of a completely neutral position for the government to take. The argument in favor of abortion services being supplied for the poor at government expense rests on 4 premises: 1) A woman has a legal right to choose to have an abortion. 2) The law provides for a free choice and government should do nothing to hinder that choice. 3) Medicaid was created to provide medical services for the poor. 4) It would be unjust and discriminatory to exempt abortion services. A consistent and acceptable government policy on abortion would be one in which the government neither encourages nor discourages abortion and limits its role to the provision of information the development of equitable regulations to control the safety and availability of abortion the support of research and training and the payment for abortions for those for whom it subsidizes other medical care. To realize such a public policy abortion opponents and advocates will need to moderate their demands and attacks on each other and abortion opponents should refrain from injecting religion into their arguments. Finally abortion rights advocates should do everything they can to reduce the need for abortion while working to see that those who need abortions can get them.