Ohio, Wisconsin Governors Slash State Funding for Planned Parenthood

By Dustin Siggins Published on February 23, 2016

Two prominent governors from politically important states have signed bills that will slash funding for Planned Parenthood.

Last week, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker signed two bills that reduce funding for America’s largest abortion company by eight million dollars. Respectively, the bills redirect $3.5 million in state funding to groups that don’t do abortions, and reimburse Planned Parenthood only for the cost of contraceptives, not profits. The latter measure will cost Planned Parenthood $4.5 million annually.

GOP presidential candidate and Ohio governor John Kasich signed a similar bill Sunday that redirects Planned Parenthood’s state funding to groups that don’t conduct abortions. The new law will prevent $1.3 million from going to the abortion giant.

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Casey Mattox praised all three laws, saying after Kasich’s signing that “Ohio is right to end its relationship with organizations undeserving of taxpayer money and unworthy of the taxpayers’ trust.”

Mattox also said about Walker’s signature that “taxpayers deserve better than an organization with a long track record of abusive and potentially fraudulent billing practices, that have been caught in authenticated undercover videos negotiating prices for baby body parts, and that have repeatedly failed to report the sexual abuse of girls.”

“Cutting Planned Parenthood’s public funding is a fiscally and morally responsible step that furthers a culture of life in the great state of Wisconsin,” said Pro-Life Wisconsin State Director Dan Miller. “Pro-Life Wisconsin is grateful to Gov. Walker for signing into law legislation that respects the consciences of Wisconsin taxpayers who oppose public funding of abortion.”

Paula Westwood, the executive director of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, said that “Planned Parenthood and other abortionists have other sources of income — including from ending the lives of unborn children — and do not merit government funds.”

Both signatures were expected. Walker, a former GOP presidential candidate, has long highlighted his pro-life principles, while Kasich has largely eschewed social issues on the campaign trail despite having previously signed 16 pro-life bills into law.

However, days before placing second in the New Hampshire primary, Kasich was asked about Planned Parenthood’s funding, to which he responded that “we’re not going to fund it,” saying that Planned Parenthood funding is “not going to pass, okay? It’s not going to happen. It’s not happening in our state and it isn’t going to happen in Washington.”

Last week, Kasich told Planned Parenthood protestors who interrupted a town hall that “We are going to fund women’s health very aggressively, including the fight to reduce infant mortality in our state. We are not cutting off women’s health and we are not going to fund Planned Parenthood because they put themselves in this pickle.”

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