Minnesota Pro-Life Group Promotes Bill to Stop Funding Abortion Group

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 27, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Minnesota Pro-Life Group Promotes Bill to Stop Funding Abortion Group

by Paul Nowak
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
January 27, 2004

St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) — Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life is making its chief legislative concern the Taxpayer Protection Act, a bill to protect taxpayers in the state from being forced to fund any organization that promotes, performs or refers for abortion.

"Many businesses, including Target Corp. and American Express, have already stopped funding Planned Parenthood and other abortion organizations," said Scott Fischbach, Executive Director of MCCL. "Isn’t it time for our state to stop funding the wealthy abortion industry?"

If passed, the Taxpayer Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (D-Lakeville) and Sen. Tom Neuville (R-Northfield), would deem any organization that participates in the abortion business ineligible for family planning grant funds.

According to MCCL, in 2000 Planned Parenthood of Minnesota/South Dakota received almost $4 million from government sources. A non-profit organization, Planned Parenthood ended 2001 with $19.6 million in assets.

"The government doesn’t give money to tobacco companies to decrease smoking or to alcohol manufacturers to stop underage drinking," reads an MCCL fact sheet on the legislation. "Neither should the state give your money to the abortion industry to prevent abortion."

Six states (Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) have passed similar laws. The U.S. Congress has repeatedly enacted legislation that protects taxpayers from funding pro-abortion organizations nationally and internationally – including the Mexico City Policy re-enacted under President Bush.

"President Bush has made the world a much safer place for unborn children," Fischbach said in an address to Minnesotans who attended the March for Life last week. "If you believe in life, you believe in George W. Bush."

Related web sites:
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life – https://www.mccl.org