Republicans push back on Biden plan to axe federal funds for anti-abortion counseling centers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

January 13, 2024, 12:31 AM


WASHINGTON -- In a new twist to the fight over abortion access, congressional Republicans are trying to block a Biden administration spending rule that they say will cut off millions of dollars to anti-abortion counseling centers.

The rule would prohibit states from sending federal funds earmarked for needy Americans to so-called “crisis pregnancy centers,” which counsel against abortions. At stake are millions of dollars in federal funds that currently flow to the organizations through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, a block grant program created in 1996 to give cash assistance to poor children and prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies.

“Programs that only or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they become pregnant likely do not meet the ... standard,” the Health and Human Services agency said in its rule proposal released late last year. More than 7,000 comments have been submitted on the proposed rule, which includes a series of restrictions on how states would be able to spend TANF monies.

The proposal limiting funds for anti-abortion counseling centers is the Biden administration's latest attempt to introduce federal policies that expand abortion access. Conservative states, meanwhile, have severely restricted the care since the U.S. Supreme Court stripped women of their federal right to an abortion in 2022.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/republicans-push-back-biden-plan-axe-federal-funds-106346479

[Haggard Celine]

1. Those anti-abortion counseling centers are

nothing but baby brokers. Childless evangelical Christians go to those places to work out deals with poor women to carry their pregnancies to term. Like the quiver-full people, these people are always looking for children to brainwash. I'm glad Biden doesn't want to give them anymore money. It's disgusting what they do, trying to grab as many people as they can to support their ideology.

[cstanleytech]

2. How the Federal government spends Federal monies belongs to the Federal government.

If the States dont like it tough shit.

[ShazzieB]

10. And money that is intended to help needy families should be going to needy families and nowhere else!

I had no idea TANF money was being used to fund those freaking lie factories! I knew that some states fund them, but I don't live in a state that does that, and there's not much I can do about how a state I don't live in allocates tax money. But federal money that comes out of the pockets of American taxpayers in every state? That's an outrage!

On top of everything else, I think this article is biased, for a couple of reasons. First of all, it contains quotes from a Republican Congressman AND a spokesperson for an anti-abortion organization, both praising the "services" that are supposedly offered by these centers, while including NO quotes (zero, zilch, nada) from anyone representing the other side. Seems pretty fishy to me.

Second, I find the wording to be strangely mild in the way it describes what these organizations do. I understand careful wording to avoid defamation law suits and such, but this is beyond careful. Take a look at this paragraph (bolding added by me):

The centers’ mission is controversial not only because workers often advise pregnant patients against seeking an abortion, but, critics say, the organizations can provide some misleading information about abortion and contraception, like suggesting that abortion can cause breast cancer. Most centers are religiously affiliated and not licensed healthcare facilities. They typically offer pregnancy tests and some offer limited medical services such as ultrasounds.

These "centers" ALWAYS advise pregnant women against seeking an abortion, because that's the whole point of their existence. They also almost always (possibly always, but I'll give them benefit of the doubt here, for the sake of dicussion) provide a ton of misinformation (in addition to the breast cancer fallacy, which I'll grudgingly give the article points for mentioning).

They typically paint an extremely melodramatic picture of the supposed "risks" of abortion, claiming that abortion is far riskier to a woman's health than continuing the pregnancy and likely to damage future fertility (all of which is absolute poppycock, unless you're talking about the illegal, "back alley" kind of abortion). They also push the idea that having an abortion is almost certain to adversely affect one's mental health in significant, negative ways. In short, they present the most (falsely) negative picture of abortion that they possibly can in the hope of convincing people to continue their pregnancy.

Not all of these things are deliberate lies. The people who "staff" these centers are strongly anti-abortion, and in my experience, forced birthers often genuinely believe all of the negative things about abortion that I have listed here and more. They are sincere about what they are doing, but sincerity does not mean they are entitled to use federal funding to support spreading misinformation about nonexistent "risks" and using ultrasounds (almost always given and interpreted by unqualified people) to convince women that their pregnancies are "too far along" for an abortion.

Sorry for the lengthy rant. These bogus pregnancy centers are a pet peeve of mine, and finding out that MY tax dollars are going to support them makes me want to hulk out and smash things. If you've actually read this far, I really appreciate it!

[KS Toronado]

3. Most States have no need for "anti-abortion counseling"

if it's illegal in their State. Repugs hear the word "abortion" and they go nuts.

[Lonestarblue]

4. Now get rid of the block grants that allow states, mostly the red ones, to divert welfare money from those who need it.

I’m reading a book on poverty in America, and before the welfare reforms in the 1990s most of the money went to recipients. Now with block grants, recipients get only 22 cents per dollar allocated. Republicans use the money for everything but helping poor people, including funding these right-wing Christian pregnancy centers. The federal government should not be funding the religious beliefs of white evangelicals over other religions.

[2naSalit]

5. Crock of poo...

Red herring. If you aren't looking to have an abortion, just go to an OB/GYN!

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Because everyone knows that poor families need more children.

[AllaN01Bear]

8. shoe is on the other foot again ,eh?

[PortTack]

9. Nailed it!

Plus they take those federal funds and enrich themselves and their cronies with pet projects and other ”so called” business deals

[Grins]

11. The other scam? "Abstinence-Only Education"

Since Bush II, a whopping $2 trillion down the drain. A PROVEN failure .

All a sop to the “Christian” Reich.

[moniss]

12. The funding for these centers also gets

used to make the centers a "recruiting" center for GQP activists. Giving people the impression they are medical people by wearing lab coats etc. and then working them for their "views" and indoctrination. They put you on their list. they now know everything about your from their "interview". No HIPPA disclosure problems because they aren't actually medical people.