Response to controversy

Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration moved quickly to delete controversial language in a proposed change to a state agency’s child support regulations, after women’s advocacy groups complained about the term “forcible rape.”

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration moved quickly to delete controversial language in a proposed change to a state agency’s child support regulations, after women’s advocacy groups complained about the term “forcible rape.”

Several groups held a rally Thursday in Albuquerque in which they criticized the Martinez administration, though the Governor’s Office said the offending language was drafted using nearly identical federal language on the same subject.

The proposed language had not yet been approved by the Children, Youth and Families Department and will be not be included in the updated guidelines, Martinez’s office said.

“The governor directed that the word ‘forcible’ be removed from the proposed regulations, and that has already been completed,” Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said late Thursday. “It’s redundant and unnecessary.”

In the proposed change to the CYFD regulations, “forcible rape” was listed as one of several possible exceptions with regard to proving paternity for individuals who receive child-care services or child support benefits from the state.

Language used to describe rape has become a sensitive political issue since Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., said last month that women’s bodies can prevent pregnancy in the case of “legitimate rapes.” He later backtracked from the comments, saying he had “misspoken,” but he has ignored calls to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Missouri.

Local advocacy groups said Thursday they feared including the term “forcible rape” could impact rape victims who apply for state child-care benefits, according to KOAT-TV.

However, other states — including Oklahoma, West Virginia, Maine and Maryland — have similar language in their child service regulations, Darnell said.