By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
Photo: Gov. Tom Wolf office
(CC BY-SA 2.0)
The abortion giant Planned Parenthood has wasted no time trying to take advantage of a new administration to issue a fresh list of pro-abortion demands in Pennsylvania.
Planned Parenthood PA’s executive director and the CEOs of a trio of Planned Parenthood affiliates met with newly-inaugurated Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro to discuss the state of abortion in the Keystone State.
In a news release, Signe Espinoza, executive director of Planned Parenthood PA, stated, “We endorsed Josh Shapiro early in the race last year because he has a record of fighting for sexual and reproductive health care, and having met with him as Governor, we know he’s going to maintain that commitment to our cause.”
Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion operation in the nation, is apparently lobbying for taxpayer funding of abortion, which is opposed by the vast majority of Americans. It appears the abortion business also wants to dismantle the highly-respected Abortion Control Act, which provides for a ban on late-term abortions, a 24-hour-waiting period for abortions, and parental consent for abortions, among other provisions.
Planned Parenthood is also launching new verbal assaults against pregnancy care centers, which have provided hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania women and their families with comprehensive counseling and support. These centers offer everything from diapers to day care referrals, and from maternity clothes to mentoring, for women and their babies.
It is important to note, however, that during the gubernatorial campaign, Shapiro said that he supported Pennsylvania law with respect to abortion. If he caves in to Planned Parenthood’s demands, he will be reneging on a campaign promise to voters.
Planned Parenthood also faces a stumbling block in the PA state Senate, which is led by individuals who are committed to the cause of life. These dedicated public officials stand in solidarity with pregnant women and their babies.
Meanwhile, leadership in the PA House of Representatives remains tenuous. A Democrat who promised to govern as an Independent is now House Speaker, but there have now been calls for Rep. Mark Rozzi to relinquish the role. That is because he appears to be backing away from his pledge to officially register as an Independent.
The showdown has brought both the House and the Senate to a standstill, and no floor action is expected until the end of February.