Idaho Defunds Planned Parenthood

May 12, 2021

 
Idaho’s Gov. Brad Little signed on May 10 a significant bill that is expected to save many preborn babies’ lives.

House Bill 220 prohibits taxpayer dollars from funding groups and organizations that perform abortions, counsel or refer for abortions or help a woman obtain an abortion. The bill also prevents health clinics in public schools from engaging in “abortion-related activities.”

In short, Idaho has defunded Planned Parenthood.

Blaine Conzatti, executive director of Family Policy Alliance of Idaho, said seeing this legislation pass has been high on his list of priorities.

“Defunding Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers was one of our top priorities when [the] legislative session began. ... ” Conzatti said. “Idahoans don’t want their state or local governments sending their hard-earned money to abortion providers—and they certainly don’t want abortionists providing services and promoting abortion in our public schools and universities.”

Idaho’s bill is timely, given the increased funding for abortion under Joe Biden’s administration. Earlier this year, the administration reversed a Title X rule that prevented abortion providers from receiving Title X funds.

Rep. Bruce Skaug, a sponsor of HB 220, was among those concerned that Title X family planning funds would go for abortion.

“We anticipate, with the new presidential administration, that Title X funds will start flowing to abortion-friendly counseling centers, family planning-type clinics, and this would prevent that,” Rep. Skaug said.

Exceptions in the bill include funding for hospitals and situations where a mother’s life is at risk.

This is not the first pro-life bill Idaho has passed recently. In late April, Gov. Little signed the Fetal Heartbeat Preborn Child Protection Act (HB 366), which bans abortions once a baby’s heartbeat can be detected.


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