A new Maryland law will force taxpayers to fund the abortion chain Planned Parenthood by taking away $2 million from a program that helps low-income families.
Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, did not veto the legislation last Thursday, allowing it to become law, according to The Hill.
The legislation will force taxpayers to fund Maryland Planned Parenthoods with state money if the federal government defunds the abortion group. The law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1.
To make up for the lost federal funding, the law would take away $2 million in Medicaid funding for low-income families and give it to the abortion chain. It also would take an additional $700,000 from the state general fund to give to Planned Parenthood, The Associated Press reports.
Local Planned Parenthood leaders rejoiced at the news, but also vowed to continue fighting for their federal tax dollars.
“It’s incumbent on all of us to keep up the fight for women,” Karen J. Nelson, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, said in a statement. “No state should have to step in to fulfill the federal government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has access to care.”
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The law makes Maryland the first state that would force taxpayers to fund Planned Parenthood if its federal funding gets cut. The AP reports Nevada and Oregon lawmakers are considering similar legislation.
“We can show solidarity in this fight against the Trump agenda and the war against women,” said state Delegate Ariana Kelly, a Democrat, at a news conference in March.
Planned Parenthood routinely performs more than 320,000 abortions on little unborn baby boys and girls every year. The majority of Americans who are pro-life on abortion have been clamoring for Congress to revoke its taxpayer funding.
Federal lawmakers currently are discussing legislation to defund the abortion group.
Planned Parenthood had the option to provide more legitimate health care services earlier this year. If it stopped doing abortions, President Donald Trump said he would increase its taxpayer funding. Planned Parenthood refused.
The real health care that it provides is minimal. Planned Parenthoods do not provide mammograms and very few provide prenatal care; those that provide ultrasounds appear only to do so for abortion purposes.
Data from the abortion group’s own reports show a growing focus on abortions and a continuous decrease in its non-abortion services. From 2009 to 2014, “cancer screenings” dropped from 1,830,811 to just 682,208. “Breast exams/breast care” fell by more than half, from 830,312 in 2009 to 363,803 in 2014 and Pap smear tests dropped nearly two-thirds, from 904,820 to 271,539.
In that same time period, Planned Parenthood’s abortion numbers remained steady, hovering around 320,000 per year.
