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 American Life League

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October 30, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Critics of Planned Parenthood have long argued that federal funding ultimately helps the abortion giant finance more abortions, but a new report indicates that it frees up more money for political activity, as well.

The nation’s largest abortion chain receives more than $500 million every year in federal tax dollars, ostensibly limited to actual women’s health services. But while those funds cannot be spent directly on abortions, analysts such as Duke University’s Chris Conover have estimated that taxpayers cover almost a quarter of abortion costs by freeing up money from Planned Parenthood’s other revenue sources.

On Tuesday, Live Action released a report arguing the effects of that funding go even further, enabling Planned Parenthood’s “political money laundering scheme.”

Under this “corrupt funding cycle,” the group explains, pro-abortion politicians funnel tax dollars to Planned Parenthood for “health” operations, leading pro-abortion donors to conclude its “health” needs are covered, so they can direct their contributions to the abortion giant’s political arms. This, in turn, helps Planned Parenthood Votes, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Planned Parenthood Federal PAC elect politicians who will protect their federal subsidies.

The report notes that Planned Parenthood has pledged $20 million – the largest amount it’s ever spent on midterm elections – to elect pro-abortion candidates in several states, as well as joined George Soros’ $30 million “Win Justice” coalition with other left-wing groups to turn out voters in Florida, Michigan, and Nevada.

“According to its latest annual report, Planned Parenthood and its political arms were able to spend $160 million last year for ‘public policy’ and ‘movement building’ and to ‘promote health equity’ and ‘engage communities’ as well as another $85 million on fundraising,” Live Action adds. “Planned Parenthood is in essence weaponizing the taxpayers’ own money against them.”

All of this comes as Planned Parenthood’s own annual reports have indicated sharp declines in the non-violent health services federal funding supposedly takes care of. From 2010 to 2014, breast cancer screenings dropped 62 percent, pap tests 72 percent, and prenatal care 30 percent.

“It’s the taxpayers who end up paying for Planned Parenthood’s radical pro-abortion agenda – an agenda that poll after poll shows most Americans are against,” Live Action founder and president Lila Rose said. “Planned Parenthood is weaponizing the taxpayers’ own money against them.”

“The corrupt bargain between Planned Parenthood and pro-abortion politicians must end. It’s paid for by taxpayers and with the lives of over 320,000 preborn children every year,” Rose continued. “Congress and the president must fulfill their promise to defund Planned Parenthood of all taxpayer dollars. American taxpayers should not be in the abortion business, nor should they be subsidizing campaign contributions to any politician to keep them in office.”

President Donald Trump has taken multiple steps to reduce Planned Parenthood’s federal funding, but Congress has failed to send him a full defunding bill. Trump and pro-life leaders say he needs more pro-life lawmakers sent to Congress in the impending midterm elections to finally defund Planned Parenthood.