Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, on Friday night, signed a pro-life bill that would prevent taxpayer funding of the Planned Parenthood abortion business, which does more than one-fourth of all abortions in the United States.

The Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act of Arizona (HB 2800) will defund abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood of state family planning money. The bill is based on model legislation developed by the SBA List and the Alliance Defense Fund, and prioritizes family planning funds away from abortion-centered businesses like Planned Parenthood to entities that provide women with comprehensive health care.

The measure prohibits the state or any local government from using public money to contract with an organization that includes abortions.

“This is a common-sense law that tightens existing state regulations and closes loopholes in order to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions, whether directly or indirectly,” Brewer said in a statement. “By signing this measure into law, I stand with the majority of Americans who oppose the use of taxpayer funds for abortion.”

Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood of Arizona, was upset by the signing of the bill to get the state out of funding the abortion business. He was upset that brewer signed the bill at an event sponsored by a pro-life women’s group, the Susan B. Anthony List.

“I think it’s also instructive that the place that the governor would sign this is at a political rally — it might be an elegant political rally, but it is a 100 percent political event, and that speaks volumes about what this legislation was about from day one,” he said.

Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews she was excited the bill became law.

“Arizona is leading the charge to protect women and young girls by prioritizing taxpayer funding for entities that provide comprehensive health care, not abortion,” she said. “The Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act does not cut a single penny of funding, but rather recognizes that women deserve whole-woman care, not abortion.”

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“Abortion-centered businesses like Planned Parenthood do not need or deserve taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs for SBA List. “We thank Governor Brewer for quickly signing this bill into law. Governor Brewer has been a consistent and bold advocate for Life and we look forward to continued partnership with her.”

In 2011, eight states successfully defunded Planned Parenthood of more than $61.7 million — including Texas, New Hampshire, and Indiana. Ohio, Iowa, and Oklahoma have taken on Planned Parenthood’s tax funding, in addition to Arizona, this year.

ACTION: Contact Governor Brewer at https://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp to thank her for signing the bill.