opinion

2-faced Arizona abortion foes want tax dollars to promote their propaganda

The thirst of abortion foes to strip women of the right to make their own decisions has no limit.

These folks now want taxpayer money to urge women against abortions. This isn’t just absurd but duplicitous to the core.

Arizona lawmakers must put the brakes on the activists' proposal to get $1.5 million for the so-called “family health pilot program,” which is nothing more than anti-abortion propaganda.

This week, a state legislative panel green-lighted SB 1328 sponsored by Sen. Rick Gray of Sun City. It gives $1.5 million to the Department of Health Services for a statewide family health program.

Requiring services to encourage childbirth

The legislation requires DHS to contract with nonprofit providers for direct services and referrals to biological or adoptive parents of children younger than 2, including “unborn children." And yes, “to encourage healthy childbirth, support childbirth as alternative to abortion, promote facility formation.”

But get this. It also prohibits money to be used for “abortion referrals services or distributed to entities that promote, refer or perform abortion.”

That’s just another attempt to dry out groups such as Planned Parenthood, a target of conservatives the likes of Cathi Herrod of Center for Arizona Policy.

The heat will be on 2 moderate Republicans

Herrod tried and failed last year to pass similar legislation but she and her conservative allies are relentless in their quest to end abortion rights. And defunding Planned Parenthood and comparable groups is an effective way to accomplish their goal.

This election year they may to try to twist the arms of two Republican lawmakers, Sens. Kathy Brophy McGee and Heather Carter of Phoenix who previously voted against the proposal.

Brophy McGee, Carter and their legislative colleagues must hold the line. They must see through the hypocrisy of abortion foes who on the one hand don’t want government money to pay for women health services -- whatever their birth choices – but now want tax dollars to pay for their crusade.

Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.