By Dave Andrusko
I suppose the timing could have been more of a poke in the eye of pro-lifers. Pro-abortion President Joe Biden could have reversed the Mexico City Policy and once again allowed Planned Parenthood to co-locate with genuine health care services while receiving Title X monies on January 22, the 48th anniversary of the awful Roe v. Wade decision, or tomorrow, when there will be a virtual March for Life in Washington. DC.
Instead he split the difference—he chose today—just as an unborn baby is split apart in a dismemberment abortion. The President said of his executive orders (which also “shored up” ObamaCare), “The best way to describe them, is to undo the damage Trump has done.”
In a moment we will talk about the damage President Biden’s executive orders will do on the domestic front. First, here are some comments from pro-life Members of Congress about the international ramifications.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) described rescinding the Mexico City as “running over the consciences of American taxpayers” and “putting them back on the hook for funding abortions overseas.”
“An Administration that wanted to pursue unity might observe that 77% of Americans — including a majority of Democrats and 85% of independents — don’t want taxpayer dollars to fund foreign abortions.
“This and many other common-sense pro-life policies enjoy broad support from the American people. But the radicalism of the modern Democratic party seems dug in.
“Fortunately, political dynamics change, but the moral truth doesn’t. Executive orders can’t alter the basic science of human life.”
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mt., the founder and chairman of the Senate Pro-life Caucus, told Fox News, “President Biden’s decision to reverse critical pro-life policies at home and abroad shows a complete lack of respect for the sanctity of human life. These actions will enrich Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry at the taxpayers’ expense, while endangering the most vulnerable. The United States should not be promoting a radical abortion agenda throughout the world, we should be leading the fight to protect the unborn and all life.”
Domestically, the battle over Title X Family Planning monies continues. The President directed the Secretary of HHS to review (as a first step towards revoking) the Trump administration’s “Protect Life Rule.” The rule requires recipients of the Title X family planning money not to co-locate with abortion clinics or refer clients for abortion as a method of family planning.
Predictably, Planned Parenthood opted out, rather than agree to the Trump Administration’s requirements. PPFA is not only looking forward to rejoining the program, but is pushing for increased funding levels
Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood, told Newsweek’s Alexandra Hutzler, PPFA is
looking for his administration to strengthen the Title X program in the budget. The Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice, a policy agenda developed by a coalition of reproductive health and justice organizations, of which Planned Parenthood is a part, estimates the needed amount at $954 million. The program usually receives $280 million annually.
Of course, today’s actions are a mere down payment. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have pledged their complete support to the full range of anti-life proposals. For example, PPFA and its phalanx of allies have shouted loud and clear they want the Hyde Amendment ended. Before it was enacted, over 300,000 abortions were paid for by the taxpayer each and every year. Conservatively, the Hyde Amendment has saved two million lives!
Pro-lifers knew this was coming. They are rolling up their sleeves and digging in for the long haul.