Oregon taxpayers will be forced to pay for unborn babies to be killed, a move that Gov. Kate Brown and her fellow Democrats celebrated on Monday.
The Washington Times reports Brown, a former abortion lobbyist, held a signing ceremony Monday to honor the new Oregon law that makes abortions free for everyone, including illegal immigrants.
The pro-abortion law will require health insurers to provide free abortions to patients without a co-pay. It also will set aside $10.2 million tax dollars for abortions, contraception and other reproductive health services for 2017 through 2019 in Medicaid, much of which pro-life advocates say will go to Planned Parenthood.
“To lead productive and thriving lives, Oregonians must have the ability to control their bodies and make informed decisions about their health care,” Brown said in a statement Monday. “I am proud to sign legislation that expands access to basic reproductive health services for all Oregonians―regardless of where they live, where they come from, or how they identify as a person.”
Republican state Sen. Jonathan Lockwood called the celebration macabre because it likely will mean more babies’ deaths in Oregon, paid for by taxpayers.
“Gov. Brown celebrating abortion and averting moderation is nothing new,” Lockwood said, referring to her previous job.
Here’s more from the report:
State Rep. Jeff Barker, a Democrat and chief sponsor of the legislation, said the law “ensures Oregonians can use these health care services when they need them, regardless of their economic status, their gender identity or their citizen status.” …
He also read a postcard that he said was from his daughter thanking him for standing up for women’s reproductive health.
“It says, ‘Dad, thanks for being a sponsor of HB 3391. As your daughter, it means a lot to me that you take women’s health care so seriously,’” Mr. Barker read, drawing “awws” from the audience. “‘I love you. Thanks. Your daughter, Heather.’”
But pro-life advocates have described the new law as reprehensible because more babies will die and mothers will suffer.
“This bill is wrong on so many levels,” said Gayle Atteberry, executive director of Oregon Right to Life, previously. “Fundamentally, HB 3391 is morally reprehensible because it will take the lives of even more innocent Oregonians. Sadly, even the barbaric practice of late-term abortion will increase as abortion is legal in Oregon through all 9 months. This is not to mention that many Oregonians are opposed to the use of their tax dollars to fund abortion.”
Oregon House Democrats indicated that the law is a direct response to President Donald Trump and pro-life federal lawmakers. Federal lawmakers are debating a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood of hundreds of millions of tax dollars.
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The law has an exemption for houses of worship and religious non-profits, but pro-life groups said the exemption is very weak.
According to Oregon Right to Life, many insurance plans in the state already cover abortions, and there is no guarantee that there will be insurance options in the future that do not cover abortions.
“HB 3391-B would force health insurance companies to cover abortions and leave it up to them whether to provide a separate abortion-free plan for religious organizations,” according to the pro-life group.
Oregon Democrats claimed the bill is about ensuring access to “health care,” but it really is about abortion. And their pro-abortion beliefs represent just a small minority.
Polls consistently show that many Americans think abortion is morally troubling because it involves the killing of an innocent human being’s life. What’s more, polls indicate that poorer Americans are some of the least supportive of taxpayer-funded abortions.
A Politico/Harvard University poll in October 2016 found that voters who make more than $75,000 were more supportive of forcing taxpayers to fund abortions (45 percent in favor), while those who make $25,000 or less were strongly against it (24 percent in favor). In other words, the people most likely to qualify for a Medicaid-covered, taxpayer-funded abortion are the ones who oppose it the most.
Overall, the poll found very little support for taxpayer-funded abortions. Just 36 percent of likely voters supported the matter, while 58 percent opposed it. These findings are consistent with previous polls from various groups.
