Obama Administration Usurps Will of Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2011
Contact: Mallory Quigley, (202) 223-8073

Pro-Life Group Criticizes President’s Interference to Help Political Ally Planned Parenthood

Washington, D.C. – The Susan B. Anthony List today criticized the Obama Administration for its latest assault on the right of states—this time Texas—to pass legislation that would defund abortion-provider Planned Parenthood of taxpayer funding.

In July, Gov. Perry and the state’s legislature passed SB 7, a bill which would redirect $64 million in Title X family planning funding away from local Planned Parenthood clinics and to agencies that do not perform abortions.  In response, this week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission rejecting the law by turning down the state’s request to run their own family planning program.  This would have allowed Texas, not HHS, to determine where the funding is allocated.

“President Obama has proven time and again that he will exert whatever force necessary to ensure that his abortion ally Planned Parenthood continues to receive taxpayer subsidies,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “This includes brazenly defying the will of states to make their own decisions as to where they send taxpayer funding. Once again the most pro-abortion President in our country’s history has shown his allegiance to Planned Parenthood is unwavering.”

In July, SBA List held a rally in Concord, New Hampshire to show support for the Executive Council’s vote to discontinue the state’s contract with Planned Parenthood, citing their practice of providing abortions, but the Obama Administration overruled the decision and contracted directly with Planned Parenthood.  Including New Hampshire, eight states have successfully cut Planned Parenthood’s funding to the tune of nearly $60.4 million dollars. The SBA List is working with pro-life grassroots organizations in those states to ensure funding is not restored and is also taking up action in other states to encourage similar results.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of more than 330,000 Americans dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics.  Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

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