Please contact Gov. Bob McDonnell’s office this week and urge him to include three important amendments to cut harmful and wasteful abortion funding, including using our tax dollars for Planned Parenthood, in the state budget. The Governor is reviewing the state budget sent to him by the General Assembly which includes state funding for Planned Parenthood, Medicaid elective abortions, and destructive embryonic stem cell research. The Governor can send these amendments back to the General Assembly for a vote during their veto session on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.
The Family Foundation has a good talking points about the amendments below.
Talking Points:
Banning Planned Parenthood Funding: This amendment prohibits taxpayer funding of the radical pro-abortion group Planned Parenthood. In its last fiscal report, Planned Parenthood Federation of America reported a budget of over $1 billion! During this decade, Virginia taxpayers have sent nearly $500,000 to Planned Parenthood, one of the most politically partisan organizations in our nation. They do not need your money! And of course, Planned Parenthood is responsible for nearly a quarter of the abortions that take place in our nation. Click here to listen to then candidate for governor McDonnell promise to use the power of his pen to defund Planned Parenthood.
Banning Funding for Elective Abortions: Incredibly in 2006 and 2007, Virginia tax dollars directly funded 322 elective abortions. The Federal government requires states to subsidize abortions only when a Medicaid-eligible woman’s life is at risk or in the cases of rape and incest. In Virginia, we fund elective low-income abortions – a standard beyond what is required by the Federal government. Regardless of their position on abortion, a vast majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.
Banning Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Let’s be honest, embryonic stem cell research has failed, while adult stem cell research has produced dozens of treatments and cures. Virginia has a clear choice: fund what works or fund failed research to make a political point. According to a recent article in Investors Business Daily, even in California where citizens voted to funnel billions to embryonic stem cell research, “Five years after a budget-busting $3 billion was allocated to embryonic stem cell research, there have been no cures, no therapies and little progress. So supporters are embracing research they once opposed” (adult stem cell research)
You can contact the Governor by phone at 804-786-2211 804-786-2211.
ACTION: Please contact Governor McDonnell immediately and urge him to send the General Assembly budget amendments prohibiting taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, embryonic stem cell research, and elective abortions.
Tags: 2010, abortion funding, Family Foundation, Gov. Bob McDonnell, Planned Parenthood, VA General Assembly, veto session April 21
