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WASHINGTON, D.C., April 5, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) — At least ten likely GOP contenders for the U.S. presidency have endorsed the major pro-life effort in Congress to strip federal funding from abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

Five of the contenders recently gave statements to the Susan B. Anthony-List endorsing Rep. Mike Pence’s amendment. The five were former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, and US Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.). Five other contenders have previously gone on record as supporting the Pence amendment.

Pence’s amendment to the long-term Continuing Resolution would prevent Title X family planning dollars from going to an organization that also performs abortions.

“Whatever side you’re on in the abortion debate, surely you can see that our taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund abortion at any time, let alone these hard economic times,” said Palin. She added that Planned Parenthood was receiving an average one million dollars a day that she said does not provide women “real choices” but instead is “simply freeing up funds that they can then invest in their primary money-making endeavor: abortion.”

“They don’t show women that they have the power, capability, strength, and love within themselves to choose the blessing that is life. They don’t explain the resources that are available to parents who want to give their child life.”

“We recognize that not only is our country buried under Mt. McKinley-sized debt, but that the truest measure of an society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves,” concluded Palin.

“Life begins as [sic] conception, period. What makes this nation unique is that we have a belief that every life has intrinsic value and worth,” said Huckabee. “It’s a horrific thought that our government provides funding to an organization that provides abortions to so many women. We need to demand this Congress vote to defund Planned Parenthood.”

“Washington has a massive spending problem, and we need to set priorities,” stated Pawlenty, who has already launched a presidential exploratory committee. “Recent undercover videos show that employees of America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, aided alleged human traffickers wishing to exploit young girls. Yet, they continue to receive significant taxpayer funding. That should come to an end.”

“I support a halt to any federal funds going to America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. One of my first acts as governor was to propose an ambitious pro-life, pro-family agenda aimed at advancing the culture of life in Mississippi by increasing adoptions and decreasing abortions,” said Barbour. “Mississippi has been called the safest place in America for an unborn child by Americans United for Life.”

“As a father, Christian and Obstetrician, I find it shameful that our government uses the tax dollars of citizens to fund Planned Parenthood,” stated Paul. “This is why I am an original cosponsor of the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act (HR 217). I have also introduced the Taxpayers’ Freedom of Conscience Act (HR 1099), legislation prohibiting any federal official from spending any federal funds for any population control or population planning program or any family planning activity.”

The Hill adds that four other potential GOP presidential contenders – black CEO Herman Cain, former US Speaker Newt Gingrich, former US Sen. Rick Santorum, and Tea Party leader and US Rep. Michele Bachmann – have already gone on the record saying they want to see Planned Parenthood defunded. Cain was the first GOP candidate to form a presidential exploratory committee.

According to Kathryn Jean Lopez at National Review Online’s The Corner https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263726/defunding-planned-parenthood-litmus-test-kathryn-jean-lopez , Mitt Romney is also in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood. Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom e-mailed Lopez: “Mitt Romney supports the Pence amendment.”

The statements can be read here at SBA-List’s Suzy-B blog https://www.sba-list.org/suzy-b-blog/breaking-republican-presidential-hopefuls-tell-sba-list-defund-planned-parenthood