In an effort to protect the rights of states to decide the allocation of tax dollars in regard to medical care, Americans United for Life filed an amicus curiae brief in the Ninth Circuit case, Planned Parenthood v. Betlach this morning. The case is a legal challenge filed by the abortion giant after the State of Arizona enacted a law in 2011 prohibiting the allocation of family planning dollars toward abortion providers. Under current law, family planning dollars are directed towards comprehensive healthcare providers such as community health clinics rather than abortion clinics.
“We support the right of state leaders to direct healthcare dollars towards medical facilities and not abortion clinics,” said AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest.
She continued, “States should retain the right to direct funds towards medical facilities that provide health care instead of abortion, rather than supporting Planned Parenthood, which is the nation’s largest abortion provider, and an organization whose annual revenue is nearly $1 billion and which already receives $363 million in annual tax subsidies.”
AUL’s brief, filed on behalf of 29 Arizona legislators and legislators-elect, argues that Arizona’s limitation on public funding for abortion providers like Planned Parenthood is constitutional and supported by the State’s strong pro-life public policy.
AUL filed the amicus brief, available here, on behalf of Representative Justin Olson, the bill’s sponsor; Senators Sylvia Allen, Nancy Barto, Andy Biggs, Rich Crandall, Linda Gray, John McComish, Al Melvin, Rick Murphy, Don Shooter, and Steve Yarbrough; Representatives Andy Tobin (Speaker of the House), Brenda Barton, Chester Crandell, Karen Fann, Doris Goodale, David Gowan, Rick Gray, John Kavanagh, Debbie Lesko, Phil Lovas, J.D. Mesnard, Justin Pierce, Terri Proud, Carl Seel, David Stevens, Jim Weiers, and Kimberly Yee; and Representative-Elect Paul Boyer.
AUL’s “Defunding the Abortion Industry and Advancing Women’s Health Act,” is the most comprehensive model legislation which protects taxpayers by defunding the abortion industry. It is available here.
