Tennessee Panel Passes Bill To Defund Planned Parenthood Abortion Chain

State   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Feb 19, 2018   |   4:22PM   |   Nashville, Tennessee

A Tennessee bill moving through the legislature would ensure that the state does not give tax dollars to the abortion chain Planned Parenthood.

State House Bill 2262, sponsored by state Rep. Bill Dunn, would permanently redirect Title X funds away from abortion groups like Planned Parenthood by prioritizing comprehensive health clinics, according to Tennessee Right to Life. The bill would codify a measure that Gov. Bill Haslam put in place in 2011.

The state House Health sub-committee passed the bill last week, and the Health Committee is scheduled to hear the bill Tuesday.

Tennessee Right to Life explained the need for the legislation in an email to supporters:

After years of focused efforts by pro-life lawmakers and principled leadership by Governor Haslam, Tennessee successfully implemented policy in 2011 which has resulted in millions of tax dollars being re-directed away from Planned Parenthood facilities in our state. Under Haslam’s direction, an administrative process was established which prioritizes public health departments to receive the public funds appropriated for family planning programs rather than private non-profit organizations such as Planned Parenthood. Prior to 2011, Planned Parenthood affiliates in Tennessee received more than $1.1 million dollars annually.

Haslam is leaving office at the end of his term as governor.

The pro-life group thanked Chairman Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, and Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, for their leadership in moving the pro-life bill forward.

Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion chain in America, destroying about 320,000 unborn babies’ lives each year. The U.S. Department of Justice currently is investigating whether Planned Parenthood illegally sold aborted baby body parts.

ACTION: Contact committee members.