Idaho House lawmakers approved a bill Tuesday to defund the billion-dollar abortion chain Planned Parenthood of taxpayer dollars.
Spokane Public Radio reports the bill passed 52-17, and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Sponsored by state Rep. Bryan Zollinger, R-Idaho Falls, House Bill 525 would prohibit Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from receiving tax dollars through state and local governments.
Zollinger said he wants to protect unborn babies by prohibiting abortions, but, right now, the courts are striking down abortion bans, Boise State Public Radio reports.
“This bill does not protect every unborn life. I wish it did. I hope we can get there soon. What this bill does is make sure, perhaps it will reduce some abortions because people will choose to take the state funding rather than perform abortions,” Zollinger said.
According to the report, Planned Parenthood received $285,000 in tax dollars from Idaho in 2019.
However, several Democrats voted against the bill, claiming it will hurt women and families by restricting access to health care.
Zollinger said he believes the bill would help save babies from abortion by directing taxpayer funds away from the abortion industry and to actual health care providers, the Idaho Statesman reports.
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Here’s more from the report:
In its legal review of Zollinger’s bill, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office found that the legislation would be “legally defensible” if it allowed exceptions for abortions performed to save the woman’s life or in cases of rape or incest, and it allowed an exception for any qualified Medicaid providers.
The legislation includes an exception for abortions to “immediately” save a pregnant woman’s life or to allow for abortions in cases of rape or incest, as long as it is so determined by a judge or reported to law enforcement.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 1,257 abortions in 2018, a slight decrease from the previous year.
Planned Parenthood’s annual reports indicate that it does not need the money. Nationally, its annual reports show shrinking patient numbers and very limited medical services, coupled with increases in abortions, taxpayer funding and record revenues. It is becoming apparent that Planned Parenthood’s focus is abortion, and tax dollars do fund its vast abortion business.
Planned Parenthood is a $1.6 billion dollar “nonprofit” that did more than 345,000 abortions last year. It also donates tens of millions of dollars to pro-abortion politicians’ campaigns.
