Jeb! uses state money to stifle choice
His own GOP dominated legislature wouldn't give him the cash for a "Pregnancy Support Services Program," so he snuck in a line item in his office budget for "crisis counseling." As previously noted, the GOP, and especially Jeb!, just don't like democracy.
Gov. Jeb Bush is pushing forward with a $2 million state-sponsored, anti-abortion contract that will include a toll-free hot line directing pregnant women exclusively to local service providers who do not provide abortions.
Bids on the contract must be submitted by 2 p.m. Monday, and are limited to agencies that "adhere to a strict policy of not promoting, referring, or counseling for abortion," according to Bush's request for proposals.
Bush had asked lawmakers for $4 million in the state's health and human services budget to fund the "Pregnancy Support Services Program."
Instead, he wound up with half that amount in his own office budget in a line item called "crisis counseling."
Abortion-rights advocates and opponents, as well as some lawmakers, were unaware the funds were included in the budget when asked about it.
The contract makes Florida one of just a handful of states to use taxpayer dollars to support anti-abortion agencies.
Bush's plan is based on a similar program in Pennsylvania, paid for by the state's Department of Public Welfare and administered by Real Alternatives, a nonprofit organization based in Harrisburg.
......The Florida plan awards a single contractor $2 million to set up the hot line, coordinate with local organizations to provide "information, education, counseling and support services solely to encourage and promote childbirth," and launch a statewide ad campaign publicizing the 800 number.
Abortion-rights proponent Stephanie Grutman of Planned Parenthood said that the $2 million could pay for 55,000 cycles of birth control for low-income women.
"Think about how many unintended pregnancies we could prevent," she said.
Grutman said Planned Parenthood is considering challenging the contract in court.