Augusta lawmakers trade insurance caps for human lives

June 17, 2011.  Recent revelations of the appropriations process for the state budget exposed the reinstatement of Governor LePage’s proposed $300,000 cut to Planned Parenthood.  It should enrage Maine citizens that this cut was used as a bargaining chip to get Democrats to back off of their concerns regarding medical insurance.  Yes indeed, pull the curtain back in Augusta and you see men and women sitting at a table trading insurance caps for human lives.

“Whether or not we are in legislative session, pro-life supporters will let their voices be heard.  They will call on legislators in Augusta to defend life and defund Planned Parenthood,” said Carroll Conley, Jr., Executive Director of the Christian Civic League.

As disgusted as the Christian Civic League of Maine is with these negotiations, we turn our ire where it really belongs—Planned Parenthood—America’s number one abortion provider.  Nearly 25% of all abortions performed in the U.S. are performed in Planned Parenthood clinics.  Don’t let anyone tell you that Planned Parenthood is not about abortions.  According to the Chiarosuro Foundation report of March 2011, nearly 37% of all Planned Parenthood’s revenues are abortion generated.

The fact that a woman’s right to an abortion is presently protected by The Supreme Court does not in any way necessitate that our tax dollars should fund that right.  The argument that tax funding of Planned Parenthood reduces the number of abortions is bogus.   According to a Susan B Anthony List press release in April, taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood increased 80% from 2000 to 2009.  In that same period abortions increased by 69%.  By the way, those same years saw a 61% decrease in adoption referrals by our friends at Planned Parenthood.

What about the thousands of impoverished women who depend on Planned Parenthood for primary care services like mammograms?  Planned Parenthood admits in its own reports that it gives primary care to less than 1% of its clients.  There are plenty of other qualified health centers that provide needed care to women in need in Maine. 

Recent news reports around the country have unmasked Planned Parenthood as an enemy of parents raising minor children.  Despite existing laws requiring clinicians to report sexual abuse, Planned Parenthood workers have been caught again and again assuring individuals, posing as underage females, they can receive contraception and/or abortion services without parental consent or notifications.  In the state of Maine, any sexual contact with someone under 15 years old is considered abuse and must be reported. 

If you think this is occurring only in New Jersey and Delaware, think again.  Go to www.childpredators.com and search for tapes 701 and 800 to hear (or read transcripts of) phone calls with workers from Maine Women’s Clinic and Mable Wadsworth Clinic here in Bangor.  Someone posing as a 13 year old girl with a 22 year old boyfriend is told time and again, contraception services can be obtained without legal reprisals for the 22 year old boyfriend.

Many politicians are still way too easily influenced by the deceit and intimidation of Planned Parenthood and the Maine Civil Liberties Union.  They are also out of touch with the typical parent who is astounded by the fact that their child can’t get an aspirin in school without their permission, but the same student is encouraged to get contraception and abortions without parental consent or notification.

This battle is not over.  A recent CNN poll (certainly not a bastion of conservative journalism) revealed that over 60% of Americans oppose tax dollars going to fund abortions.  More and more young people are recognizing the hollowness of the pro-death culture and are turning to the truth of defending the dignity of life.  

Christian Civic League of ME

http://www.mainefamilypolicycouncil.com/artman/publish/index.shtml

70 Sewall St. Augusta, ME 04330
Carroll L. Conley, Jr. Executive Director

Media requests:  Debra Wagner, 207-992-8997, debwagner@gwi.net