From Lake County Right to Life -
On Wednesday last week, U.S. Congressman Robert Dold introduced HR 5650, the Protecting Women's Access to Healthcare Act. In his introduction of this egregious bill, Congressman Dold said, "As a pro-choice Republican, I believe that this legislation is critical because it insures non-discrimination within the Federal Title X family planning program. We have seen several attempts to block funds and exclude health care providers from participating in the Title X program, simply because they separately offer services beyond the scope of Title X. We should not discriminate against hospitals and organizations that provide access to basic preventative and in some cases, lifesaving services for so many underprivileged women through Title X."
Standing with Representative Bob Dold as he introduced HR 5650 was Darlene Crocket of Planned Parenthood and Candy Straight and Susan Bevan with Republican Majority for Choice.
Representative Dold is critical of his fellow Republican for seeking to block funds from Title X, "simply because they separately offer services beyond the scope of Title X." What he fails to mention is that these "services" refer exclusively to abortion.
Representative Mike Pence introduced the Pence Amendment last February. This amendment would defund Planned Parenthood because, although Planned Parenthood has been banned from using federal funds for abortions, the loophole allows Title X to free up other money that can be indirectly used for abortion. Representative Pence said, "We should end the day when the largest abortion provider is the largest recipient of Title X federal funding. What's clear to me, if you follow the money, you can actually take the funding supports out of abortion. We then have a much better opportunity to move forward to be a society that says yes to life." The Pence Amendment was passed by the House in February with Representative Dold voting against the amendment.
Lake County Right to Life supports the Pence Amendment and strongly opposes Representative Dold's attempt to use taxpayer funding for abortion.