The Fight for Life Continues

Brittany Jones, Esq., Policy Manager

As thousands marched for life in Washington D.C. and across our country, we saw monumental government actions related to abortion – some encouraging and some disturbing. We’ve learned the hard way this week that elections have consequences, and we are seeing those consequences play out in the courts through presidentially-nominated judges, the executive branch, and in state legislatures.

First, the good news. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, just ruled in favor of Texas’ ability to deny Planned Parenthood funding through Medicaid. The court said Planned Parenthood was violating the state’s laws against selling human body parts, and Texas was justified in its decision to deny funding. Further, it determined the liberal interpretation by the state court judge repeatedly ignored important aspects of Planned Parenthood’s improper actions. It’s comforting when a federal court of appeals is willing to overturn a liberal decision from a state court judge.

This decision has important implications for states’ ability to decide how Medicaid funds will be used. This is now the second federal court to recognize a state’s interest in controlling their Medicaid funds and their ability to deny funding when Planned Parenthood has clearly violated the state’s policies. The driving force behind states moving to cut Planned Parenthood funding has been the sickening hidden videos of the group admittedly selling baby body parts.

It was also encouraging to see President Trump send a letter to congressional leadership stating that he would veto any funding bill that contained federal funding for abortion. For the last several decades, the Hyde Amendment (which prevents federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortions) has been a part of every funding bill. Democrat leadership already tried to remove protections against using federal funds for abortions globally and is working to remove other protections as well. We appreciate President Trump for his commitment to advancing life and protecting taxpayers.

While we celebrate these advances, you were probably as angry as we were when the radical liberals in the New York General Assembly voted to allow a woman to abort a baby up until the moment of birth, removing all restrictions and regulations on abortion in the state. New York’s new law even removed protections for babies who survive botched abortions—leaving babies born alive after an attempted abortion without guaranteed proper medical care. Despite the heroic efforts of our state ally, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, fighting against this unthinkable bill, New York now ranks among the states with the least abortion regulations.

Through our President and the pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate, we are reaping many benefits from the 2016 and 2018 elections. Many states, like those fighting to strip Planned Parenthood of their taxpayer-funded gravy train, are also making important advancements for the cause of life. Others, like we see in New York, are controlled by liberal majorities in their state governments who make it their top priority to carry the banner for abortion-on-demand. These are important lessons to remember as we gear up for 2020, and we can’t do it without you. It will take a genuine awakening of Christians throughout our country to stand up and speak out—and steward their votes.

Our work in elections ultimately determines our successes in state legislatures. With your help, we can work together to protect both preborn babies and their mothers by electing lawmakers who share our values and then encouraging them to pass pro-life measures into law—in your state and for the whole country in D.C.

• Give a gift to support efforts to elect prolife leaders in 2020 and to advance prolife policies in the states and Washington, D.C.
• Give a tax-deductible gift to help train and equip Christian lawmakers, churches and families to advance the cause of life.