LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 1, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Nebraska lawmakers are considering prioritizing federally qualified community health centers over abortion giant Planned Parenthood when it comes to Title X funding.
Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts proposed a budget that includes language prioritizing the non-abortion clinics.
Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, told LifeSiteNews via email that this “tiered approach” means clinics that provide comprehensive healthcare would be more likely to receive taxpayer money than the nation's largest abortion company.
Title X money comes from the government to fund “family planning services” but technically not abortion. Pro-life advocates point out that this money is fungible, so even if tax dollars aren't directly funding abortion, they're helping keep the business afloat.
“Title X funds would go to federally qualified health centers first, then community-based health centers that provide a range of comprehensive services, and [Planned Parenthood] would be at the bottom of the tier after other clinics on top receive funding,” said Schmit-Albin.
Schmit-Albin said Planned Parenthood previously received the majority of Title X funding.
“The aim here is to spread it around more fairly across the state,” she said, noting that Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is located in the two biggest urban areas, Omaha and Lincoln.
Before leaving office, President Obama signed a regulation forcing states to fund Planned Parenthood through Title X. Pro-life groups called this a “parting gift to the abortion industry.”
After President Trump took office, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate overturned this regulation. Vice President Pence broke a tie in the Senate to send it to Trump's desk. Trump signed it while flanked by female pro-life leaders Marjorie Dannenfelser, Penny Nance, and Rep. Diane Black, R-TN.