Minnesota Senate Defeats Measure Stopping Tax-Funding of Abortion Industry
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 9, 2004
St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) — The Minnesota state Senate on Thursday defeated a pro-life measure that would have made sure state family planing tax dollars would not go to any businesses that perform abortions.
Observers said the 42-23 procedural vote means the measure would likely be defeated if it came up again.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, said the measure did not belong in the supplemental budget bill.
The state House passed the Taxpayer Protection Act Friday by a vote of 83-46. House Speaker Steve Sviggum told the Pioneer Press newspaper that representatives are not inclined to remove the provision from their version of the budget plan.
"We will certainly be discussing [the Senate vote], and the House will certainly try to prevail,” he said.
If approved, the pro-life legislation, 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.
Marice Rosenberg, vice president of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, said her group backs the measure.
"Most Minnesotans don’t believe in abortion on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and they don’t want their tax dollars funding the abortion industry," Rosenberg said.
"Taxpayers need protection from having to advance the extreme abortion agenda of Planned Parenthood," added Rosenberg. "The vast majority of Minnesotans want to stop their tax dollars from subsidizing an industry that causes harm to nearly 15,000 women and unborn children per year."
Planned Parenthood of Minnesota/South Dakota opposes HF 436, claiming that the bill would cut as much as $5 million to its organization and 47 others that promote and perform abortion throughout Minnesota. They and other opponents of the legislation refer to it as the "Super Gag Rule."
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.
Six states, including Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, have passed similar laws.
Related web sites:
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life – https://www.mccl.org
