It’s Time to De-Fund Planned Parenthood

Abortion, , ,

A federal court recently ruled Arkansas could move forward with plans to cut Medicaid funds from abortion provider Planned Parenthood. The state officially severed ties with the abortion giant late last year.

Similar situations are playing out in other states as more and more choose to spend their public dollars elsewhere. So why is the federal government continuing to subsidize Planned Parenthood with our tax dollars?

Eric Metaxas at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview writes,

We have a prolife president. We have a prolife Congress. But as Students for Life of America recently pointed out, despite their pledge to defund Planned Parenthood, “you and I are still being forced to funnel our money to the nation’s largest abortion vendor.”

And despite Planned Parenthood’s oft-repeated claim that it offers “comprehensive health services,” its own just-released annual report reveals what a big, fat lie this is. Their own statistics reveal a steep decline in positive services—such as testing for STDs. In fact, as National Review Online notes, Planned Parenthood’s annual report reveals that the abortion giant “exists to provide abortions and not much else.” As for prenatal services—they’ve “dropped steadily every year since 2009, from over 40,000 that year to just under 8,000 last year.”

Most Arkansans believe abortion ought to be completely illegal or legal only under certain circumstances, and voters have made it clear they don’t want their tax dollars subsidizing abortion.

Metaxas suggests voters encourage their elected officials in Congress to follow through on campaign promises to de-fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. You can read his entire commentary here.

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Arkansas Ranked Second Most Pro-Life State in America

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Little Rock, Ark. – On Tuesday Americans United for Life released its 2018 “Life List” ranking each state based on its laws and policies regarding human life. According to the list, Arkansas is the second most pro-life state in America, just behind Arizona.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “This is something Arkansans should be proud of. In the past Arkansas has been ranked as high as number three or number four in the nation when it comes to protecting innocent, human life. This is the best ranking we have ever received.”

The Life List ranks states based on their policies regarding abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, and other issues related to human life. Cox said he believes pro-life laws passed by the Arkansas Legislature in recent years are the reason the state has moved up in the rankings. “The credit goes to Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Legislature for taking a courageous stand that protects human life in Arkansas from conception until natural death. Their hard work is paying off. We as citizens of Arkansas should be very proud of them. Last year Arkansas passed a long list of laws prohibiting or regulating certain abortion procedures and protecting women’s health. Recently the State officially quit giving Medicaid funding to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. Arkansas also has some excellent policies in place when it comes to suicide and euthanasia. Laws and policies like these have turned Arkansas into the second most pro-life state in the country.”

Cox said he is looking forward to the day when Arkansas is the most pro-life state in America. “Abortion in Arkansas has plummeted to record lows in recent years—especially among teenagers. Public opinion polling shows most Arkansans believe abortion ought to be either completely illegal or legal only under certain circumstances. Right now the only state with better pro-life laws is Arizona. Given the circumstances, I believe Arkansas could easily become the number-one state in America when it comes to protecting, respecting, and valuing human life.”

Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock.

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AR Pro-Life Law Could Stop Clinics From Doing Chemical Abortions

Abortion, , ,

Last Thursday attorneys for Planned Parenthood filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court saying their clinics will have to stop doing chemical abortions if a pro-life law from 2015 is upheld.

In 2015 the Arkansas Legislature passed a law requiring abortion clinics performing chemical abortions to contract with a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital to handle complications from the abortion.

In 2016, U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker blocked that law from being enforced. However, last July, a three-judge panel at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Judge Baker’s decision. Now Planned Parenthood is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to strike the law down.

Last week Planned Parenthood wrote that if the law is enforced, it will have to stop doing chemical abortions in Arkansas, because Planned Parenthood has been unable to find a doctor with hospital admitting privileges with whom to contract.

When the Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act was filed in 2015, a lot of people said it wouldn’t do anything. Before it’s over, this simple law may have a larger impact on abortion and pro-life laws in America than any other bill we have worked on in recent history. Here’s how:

  1. Hospital Admitting Privileges. Last year the U.S. Supreme Court struck a Texas law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. Many took that to mean admitting privileges requirements were unconstitutional. The Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act requires abortion clinics to contract with a physician who has hospital admitting privileges. However, the Eighth Circuit implied Arkansas’ law is different from Texas’ and might be constitutional.
  2. The “Large Fraction” Test. The Eighth Circuit panel essentially said judges can’t just strike down any law that makes it harder to get an abortion. The law must affect a large percentage of women seeking an abortion. That applies to every state in the Eighth Circuit. This could make it easier for pro-life laws in Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota to withstand future legal challenges.
  3. Future Pro-Life Laws. The Eighth Circuit’s ruling revealed other pro-life laws we might pursue. For example, the judges suggested a state could require abortion clinics to maintain a twenty-four hour emergency telephone line. This will help guide our pro-life legislation in the future.

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