March 12, 2020

Minnesota State Legislators Propose Bill Banning Taxpayer-Funded Abortion

Minnesota state legislators in both the House and the Senate proposed bills Wednesday to prohibit the use of state tax dollars to fund abortions.

Rep. Marion O’Neill (R-Maple Lake) and Sen. Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point) wrote the bills which, if passed, would challenge a 1995 state Supreme Court ruling which requires Medicaid funding of abortion for pregnant women who receive state assistance.

According to 2017 statistics from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state of Minnesota paid $1.06 million to facilitate abortions that year. 2018 statistics from the Minnesota Department of Health suggest nearly half of the abortions in the state were funded using taxpayer dollars.

A ban on taxpayer-funded abortions was passed by legislators in 2011 and 2017 as well, but it was vetoed both times by then-Gov. Mark Dayton.

Click here to read more.