Abortion? Not With My Money!

Of all of the things that government wastes money on, none is as deadly or tragic as abortion.

In West Virginia, taxpayers have had no choice–they’ve had abortion shoved down their throats by three judges.

In 1993, the West Virginia State Supreme Court issued the Panepinto Decision, which struck down a provision in the state budget that banned the funding for most abortions. To add insult to injury, a pro-abortion court lead by former president of the West Virginia chapter of the National Organization for Women, created an even greater “right” to abortion under the West Virginia Constitution than even exists under Roe v. Wade.

It was an outrage. Three people in black robes ignored the will of the citizens of this state and issued a ruling on a law in order to advance their political agenda and unborn children have been paying the price ever since.

Just last year alone, the state of West Virginia spent nearly $400,000 to pay for abortions. Tragically, 798 unborn children died with the aid of taxpayer money last year alone. The federal government requires that the state pay for abortions only for rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. Yet, in West Virginia, taxpayers are forced to pay for abortions for any reason–even as a method of birth control.

During the legislative session, WVFL sought information on just how much of state money had gone to pay for abortions in each year since the Panepinto decision was issued. Unfortunately, the Department of Health and Human Resources has not been able to give us the total amount. They have released some information to WVFL, but have repeatedly urged WVFL not to make the information public because they can’t determine the accuracy of their own accounting.

We can know that West Virginia taxpayers have been forced to spend millions of dollars for abortions and that thousands of unborn children have died as a result.

Since the deadly Panepinto decision, West Virginians for Life has worked to elect a pro-life majority to the state Supreme Court. WVFL believes a pro-life majority now exists on the state Supreme Court.

The time has come to overturn the Panepinto decision.

During the 2008 legislative session, West Virginians for Life will make stopping the state funding of abortion its number one legislative goal. But it won’t be easy. Work must begin now.

n June, WVFL will launch the “Not With My Money” campaign. Please consider assisting WVFL in this life and death battle. Pro-lifers can contact their legislators now and urge them to ban the state funding of abortion.