There may be no more amorphous political phrase in the English language than “taxpayer-funded abortion.” The term originally appeared along with the Hyde Amendment to prevent insurance from covering the abortion procedures of Medicaid patients. But the expression has since blossomed into a hodgepodge of exaggerated definitions, especially within the last few years of anti-abortion legislation.
In Kansas, the legislature used the term to close every tax loophole that could conceivably allow a person to write off any aspect of an abortion or education. And in Ohio, they insisted that taxpayer-funded abortion justified forbidding university or public hospitals from offering transfer agreements to doctors who worked in abortion clinics.
Conservatives have long claimed any funding going to an entity that offers abortion along with contraception and other sexual health services is simply “freeing up” money to be used for terminations, thereby inadvertently forcing taxpayers to fund the procedure. The federal government has even tried to eliminate all abortion coverage in any insurance plans that would receive subsidies under Obamacare in order to “protect” people from being forced to fund abortions.
But just when it seemed that the definition had been stretched further than anyone could ever imagine, abortion opponents are at it again. This time their target is funding from states or cities that could potentially be used to open new reproductive health centers. Or, as the GOP is putting it, “abortion bonds.”
“Abortion bonds” is the new moniker offered by North Carolina Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Tea Party Republican. He’s perhaps best known for telling people with pre-existing conditions who would lose coverage if the Affordable Care Act were repealed that maybe they should just move.
According to Pittenger, cities and states have been allowing Planned Parenthood to use local bonds — very low interest loans offered to businesses and entities that will benefit the area…