CAP's Pro-Life Proposal

By Cathi Herrod, President, Center for Arizona PolicyWhat an amazing rally!Hundreds of pro-life advocates joined CAP, Live Action, and a number of state legislators yesterday as we gathered outside the Phoenix late-term abortion clinic Family Planning Associates.As Live Action's undercover video investigation revealed, Family Planning Associates has little regard for the health and safety of women and the preborn.This video, coupled with the revelations from the trial of convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell, has highlighted the need for further abortion clinic regulations: namely that state and county regulators must be allowed to perform unannounced inspections at abortion clinics.Abortion clinics are the only medical facilities in the state that are not allowed to have unannounced inspections. It is unacceptable that these facilities are treated differently than any other organization.Senator Nancy Barto and Rep. John Kavanagh are sponsoring the CAP-supported SB 1069 to allow for unannounced inspections at abortion clinics. This bill also addresses taxpayer funding for abortion providers through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), our state version of the federal Medicaid program, by:Clarifying that Medicaid dollars cannot be used either directly or indirectly for performing, assisting, or encouraging abortions and requiring AHCCCS to conduct audits to ensure compliance. Prohibiting abortion providers from performing abortions on AHCCCS members who have come to them previously for family planning services. Enhancing abortion-reporting requirements to include information about which abortion providers are receiving AHCCCS money. It should be clear that these steps will not completely prohibit taxpayer funds from going to abortion providers under Medicaid expansion. Also, the above provisions are not the same as those passed by the legislature last year as HB 2800, the law currently being challenged in court by Planned Parenthood and scheduled for a court hearing at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals next Wednesday, June 12.SB 1069 is scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations committee on Monday at 10:00 a.m. with floor votes anticipated next week.We need your help to ensure this bill passes. We must carry on the momentum from the rally. The pro-life community is thriving in Arizona, and when we unite behind a cause, we can accomplish significant steps to protect life.Read our Fact Sheet on the bill, and Respond to this Action Alert!View pictures from the rally on CAP's Facebook page.