The governor of Michigan has signed into law a new state budget that would defund Planned Parenthood and cut over $4 million dollars from the nation’s biggest abortion business. However Republican Governor Rick Snyder refuses to enforce the language in the budget to defund Planned Parenthood, a decision that is sure to upset pro-life voters in the state.
Michigan lawmakers approved a budget last week that ensures no taxpayer funding will go to the abortion giant Planned Parenthood. The budget passed the state Senate in a strong 33-2 vote, but Governor Snyder won’t enforce it.
Snyder said his office did a legal review of the language and said because the language would technically change existing law, it was not something that could be enforced through the budget.
“If they wanted to look at that as an issue, it’d have to be done legislatively,” he said. “I believe it’s unenforceable, so we’re going to treat it that way.”
But that doesn’t appear to be the case. A 2002 Michigan law already requires family planning funds to be prioritized to non-abortion groups, but the state law is not being enforced, according to Right to Life of Michigan.
“For 16 years the state law has been ignored,” said Barbara Listing, president of the pro-life organization, said at the time of the budget’s passing. “We’re happy the legislature is taking this opportunity to make sure our law is followed.”
This year, Planned Parenthood received about $4.4 million in Title X family planning funds, according to the local news. However, the new budget language would redirect the funds to family planning groups that do not perform abortions. Snyder will ignore that directive and funnel funds to the abortion company.
Right to Life of Michigan identified seven counties where the abortion chain receives taxpayer funds even though there are other non-abortion health care providers that could serve low-income families instead.
“There’s no reason a county health department should be losing out in favor of Planned Parenthood, which performs more than 320,000 abortions annually across the country. It’s time for our state government to follow the state law and make sure our tax dollars are not helping Planned Parenthood expand abortion,” Listing said.
SIGN THE PETITION! Congress Must De-Fund Planned Parenthood Immediately
Listing said the governor has been given “bad information” because the budget language simply ensures the state is following the law.
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.
In December, the U.S. Department of Justice said it is investigating whether the abortion chain illegally sold aborted baby body parts.
Action: Contact Gov. Rick Snyder here.
