The Missouri legislature has passed a bill that would restrict public funding to abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood and related companies. This comes amidst state taxpayer funds still being funneled into these organizations, despite Missouri’s strong pro-life stance. The move follows an expose indicating that Planned Parenthood was allegedly smuggling teen girls across state borders to perform secret abortions without parental consent.
Alliance Director of Missouri Right to Life, Susan Klein, praised the passage of HB 2634, which seeks to divert taxpayer funds away from abortion providers. The Missouri Supreme Court had earlier deemed unconstitutional a similar policy rejecting family planning funds to abortion providers. However, by placing pro-life protective language into statute, it is hoped HB 2634 can bypass this constitutional challenge.
The move comes in the wake of a Project Veritas expose in December, filming Planned Parenthood employees allegedly admitting to taking minor girls across state borders for abortions without parental consent. The revelation prompted a lawsuit by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey against Planned Parenthood for legal violations.
Planned Parenthood, which reported a total income of over $2 billion in its 2022-2023 annual report, is the leading abortion provider in the US, carrying out about 4 in 10 abortions. Supporters of the bill are hoping to prevent state tax-dollars from subsidizing these procedures and protect the sanctity of unborn life.