Victoria Cobb, President
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Action Alert: Oppose Taxpayer Dollars to Planned Parenthood in Va. Budget
Let’s be honest. State Senate Democrats don’t care about the budget. They don’t care that without a budget, police officers and teachers won’t get paid. They don’t care that their refusal to vote for a budget leaves the Commonwealth in financial crisis. What state Senate Democrats care about is their progressive social agenda.
That is why the Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to the Governor yesterday demanding that Planned Parenthood funding be included in the state budget. Time and time again pro-life advocates have won out over liberal members of the General Assembly who want Planned Parenthood funding included; so this time, the Senate Democrats attempted to add funding through a backdoor approach. Continuing to blow the ultrasound debate out of proportion, Senate Democrats have asked Governor McDonnell to pledge his support to “mandating insurance coverage of the ultrasounds and/or having the Commonwealth pay for the ultrasounds” through the state budget. Since Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortions in Virginia and many women will get their ultrasound there, some of this funding would go into the coffers of Planned Parenthood.
Please contact key members of the legislative and executive branches immediately and urge them to NOT add budget language that would give taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood through mandating unnecessary ultrasound funding.
The irony of all this is that Planned Parenthood already requires that at least one ultrasound be performed prior to an abortion; therefore, it seems that this proposed state funding would doubly fund what is already being done. Additionally, the ultrasound bill provides women considering abortion a statewide list of ultrasound providers and notates which providers offer the service for free. A woman does not have to go to an abortion provider to get her ultrasound. The Senate Democratic Caucus’ budget demands are simply a ruse to attack Pregnancy Resource Centers who provide this service free of charge and to give taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood.
If you recall, this policy item has already been voted on during the ultrasound debate and died in the Senate on a 20-20 vote with Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling breaking the tie. However, Senate Democrats are not willing to let this issue go, knowing the budget fight can’t be resolved by a tie-breaking vote.
That is why we need you to contact key members of the House and Senate, budget conferees and executive branch immediately and urge them to stand strong and NOT add budget language that would result in taxpayer money going to Planned Parenthood for an ultrasound they already do.
It is simply appalling that the state budget hinges on something as ridiculous as funding for Planned Parenthood. However, examples federally and in other states (most recently Texas) show that pro-aborts are willing to shut down almost everything in order to guarantee Planned Parenthood funding. In the Texas example, the Obama Administration has threatened to end all Texas Medicaid funding to ensure Planned Parenthood continues to receive state funds.
Key legislative and executive branch players need to hear from you today to know how important it is they not cave under the overwhelming pressure. Email them today and urge them to stand for life and NOT fund Planned Parenthood.
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