South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster promised Tuesday to do what ever it takes to stop taxpayer dollars from funding the largest abortion chain in America, Planned Parenthood.
“I will do whatever I can to stop Planned Parenthood from getting taxpayer money, and that includes a veto of money going to Planned Parenthood, but I don’t believe they are going to get that money,” McMaster said, according to the Greenville News.
As governor, McMaster already has taken a number of steps to cut off taxpayer funding from abortion groups in the state. However, Planned Parenthood and some other abortion groups receive taxpayer funding through numerous streams, and cutting off all of them is a huge challenge.
On Tuesday, McMaster said he would be willing to refuse $34 million in federal aid if it would mean the state could defund abortion groups, the local news reports.
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Asked why he was spending time talking about Planned Parenthood with a bevy of other issues facing the state, McMaster said the issue of abortion is “fundamental.”
“This is about life,” he said. “If you’re not alive you don’t need a highway, you don’t need anything,” he said. “There are young, unborn children being killed right as we’re standing here right now up the hill at Planned Parenthood.”
McMaster said he believes what Planned Parenthood is doing is “outrageous.”
“I think they are a blemish on the great character of the people of South Carolina and this country,” he said. “They need to stop doing that. I’m going to do all I can do to see they get no taxpayer money. I can accomplish that. And I will, along with President Trump.”
SIGN THE PETITION! Congress Must De-Fund Planned Parenthood Immediately
Last year, McMaster instructed the state Department of Health and Human Services to request a waiver from the federal government to defund abortion groups of Medicaid dollars. On Tuesday, he said the waiver process is on-going, but he expects to approve it soon.
In 2017, he also directed state agencies to stop giving funds to or contracting with groups that provide abortions. A state report of detailing funding between 2011 and 2017 found Planned Parenthood received at least $312,000 from the state Department of Health and Human Services and the South Carolina Public Employment Benefit Authority.
Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion business in America, aborting approximately 320,000 unborn babies every year. Its most recent annual report showed a record income of $1.46 billion, with about half a billion dollars coming from taxpayers. At the federal level, President Donald Trump and his administration also have been cutting off various streams of funding to abortion groups.
In December, the U.S. Department of Justice said it is investigating whether the abortion chain illegally sold aborted baby body parts.
