Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed a bill into that would would defund the Planned Parenthood abortion business, which kills more babies in abortions in America than anyone else.
Sponsored by state Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, House Bill 220 would prohibit taxpayer funding to any group that aborts unborn babies, helps women get abortions or counsels women for abortions. It also would ban abortion-related activities in health clinics in public schools. Exceptions would be allowed for hospital funding and abortions when the mother’s life is at risk.
The bill passed the House in a 55-14 vote, with three Republicans and 11 Democrats voting against it. Late Monday, Little signed it into law.
“We anticipate, with the new presidential administration, that Title X funds will start flowing to abortion-friendly counseling centers, family planning-type clinics, and this would prevent that,” Skaug said.
“It’s going to save some children from abortion. I have no doubt about that. If I could save all the children from abortion with a bill, I would do it. But the political and legal realities will not allow us to have a bill to pass and be successful for that,” he continued.
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The Family Policy Alliance, Right to Life of Idaho and Idaho Chooses Life support the bill.
“This new law will prevent abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving any state or local funding. It will also guarantee that abortion is not promoted in our Idaho public schools,” Right to Life told LifeNews.com. “It was sponsored by Sen. Christy Zito (R-Hammett) and Reps. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) and Brent Crane (R-Nampa). Many thanks and much gratitude for their hard work getting this vital bill through the Idaho legislature and much gratitude to Governor Little for signing this bill into law.
The Family Police Alliance told LifeNews the new law “defunds” abortion providers like Planned Parenthood, making sure that state and local money cannot be used to promote or provide abortions. The legislation contains exceptions for publicly funded hospitals and for abortions funded by Medicaid in accordance with the Hyde amendment. Boise State University, the University of Idaho, and Idaho State University currently offer abortifacients and abortion counseling through student health centers, it explained.
Additionally, a transition report issued last year under the auspices of Mayor Lauren McLean (D-Boise) broadcasted the City of Boise’s intention to offer free abortions to city residents. The No Public Funds For Abortion Act forbids the City of Boise from entering contracts with abortion providers and offering abortion-related services to its residents.
Blaine Conzatti, Executive Director for Family Policy Alliance of Idaho, told LifeNews:
“Defunding Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers was one of our top priorities when legislative session began earlier this year. Idahoans don’t want their state or local governments sending their hard-earned money to abortion providers—and they certainly don’t want abortionists providing services and promoting abortion in our public schools and universities.
“Abortion should never be subsidized with our tax dollars, and Idaho public school students should never learn about sexuality from the abortion industry. The No Public Funds For Abortion Act protects students, vulnerable women, and hard-working taxpayers from the ‘Big Abortion’ lobby. We are excited that Gov. Brad Little signed this important pro-life reform that protects taxpayer assets from abortion providers who have benefitted from government largesse for too long.”
This new law is especially timely because the Biden administration recently proposed administrative rule changes that would allow abortion providers to once again participate in the federal Title X family planning program. Under the regulatory scheme outlined in H220, abortion providers in Idaho could not receive Title X funds if the money passed through state or local government agencies.
Despite Planned Parenthood leaders’ claims, it does not provide much basic health care. Its “core mission” is aborting unborn babies. And its own annual reports show that the few actual health services that it does provide, such as birth control, cancer screenings and sterilizations, have been dropping steadily in recent years.
Its most recent annual report showed a record number of abortions, more than 354,000, representing about 41 percent of all unborn babies who were aborted in the U.S. that year. Planned Parenthood also received $618.1 million in taxpayer funding.
Meanwhile, community health centers outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities by 20 to one and provide comprehensive health care, including dozens of vital services that the abortion chain does not.
A number of states have tried to defund the abortion chain in recent years. Texas came close to that goal in February, but a judge blocked the state from kicking Planned Parenthood out of its Medicaid program.
