|
|
The
views expressed
on this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily
represent the views of County News Online
|
The Daily Signal
Ohio Might Be
the Next State to Defund Planned Parenthood
Kate Scanlon
October 22, 2015
Ohio could become the next state to defund Planned Parenthood.
The Ohio Senate approved legislation on Wednesday that would prevent
state and certain federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood.
The legislation was approved in a 23-10 vote and was sent to the
Republican-led state House for consideration.
In a statement, Ohio Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina, said that
“these public funds will now provide additional vital health services
to women and children in Ohio.”
“I am proud that the Senate passed this legislation today to ensure our
taxpayer dollars are spent on their well-being and not misused in the
illegal manner demonstrated by Planned Parenthood officials in those
disturbing videos,” Faber said.
Ohio is the latest state to consider defunding Planned Parenthood
following the release of undercover videos by the Center for Medical
Progress depicting senior executives at the organization discussing the
sale of aborted babies’ body parts.
Profiting from the sale of human body parts is a felony in the United
States. Spokespersons for Planned Parenthood have dismissed the videos
as “heavily edited” and have denied participation in illegal
transactions. The organization recently announced that it will no
longer accept “reimbursement” for donations of babies’ body parts to
researchers.
Katie Franklin, the director of communications for Ohio Right to Life,
told The Daily Signal she is optimistic that the bill will be approved
by the House and signed into law by Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio.
“For years, Ohio Right to Life has been working to defund Planned
Parenthood. When we introduced our 2015-2016 legislative agenda in
February, this bill was a top priority for us,” Franklin said. “The
summer’s gruesome video scandal breathed new life into this effort,
motivating Ohio’s pro-life elected officials to pursue defunding with
urgency, prudence and compassion. Ohio Right to Life thanks Senate
President Keith Faber for swiftly ushering this legislation through the
Ohio Senate.”
Stephanie Kight, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates
of Ohio, said in a statement, “This revolting attempt on the part of
the Ohio General Assembly to pass laws that blatantly harm women, men
and their families, especially those in underserved areas, is
unforgivable.”
“We are profoundly disappointed in the Ohio Senate today, particularly
Sen. President Faber, not only for passing such an irresponsible and
wrong-headed bill, but for robbing the people and their colleagues of
the opportunity to hear testimony that is essential to the democratic
process,” Kight said.
Casey Mattox, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, who
testified before the Ohio Senate’s Government Oversight and Reform
Committee on the legislation, said in a statement that “states aren’t
required to commit any resources to facilitating abortion.”
“As the U.S. Supreme Court has said, state governments have a real
interest in preserving and promoting the health and safety of babies
before they are born,” Mattox said. “States have authority to enact
laws and policies that encourage childbirth over abortion, including
withholding taxpayer subsidies.”
Read this and other articles at The Daily Signal
|
|
|
|
