In a huge win for taxpayer freedom and the sanctity of life on Thursday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Trump imposed regulation on health clinics which bars facilities who receive Title X funding from giving abortion referrals can go into effect as the legal case against the regulation works through the court system
The change to previous Title X policy crafted by the Trump administration simply bars taxpayer-funded health clinics from giving referrals for or counsel on abortion. This policy is consistent with the logic behind the Hyde Amendment which protects freedom of conscience by banning federal tax dollars for being used toward the procedure. The purpose is not to limit abortion nor squash access, but rather protect taxpayers from having the money that they surrender to the government used towards abortion, referrals for abortion, or abortion-related counseling.
The ruling will steeply impact Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, which also relies on Title X funding. The ‘Women’s Health’ organization often calls this policy the ‘gag rule.’
CALLS NEEDED TODAY: We *can* protect access to birth control and other reproductive health care through Title X. Tell your reps to protect Title X and reject the gag rule. #ProtectX pic.twitter.com/MAm4tIHrIP
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) June 18, 2019
Despite what the abortion lobby wants voters to think, this regulation on Title X funding is not an attack on abortion access but a protection for the American taxpayer.
"Absent a stay, HHS will be forced to allow taxpayer dollars to be spent in a manner that it has concluded violates the law, as well as the Government’s important policy interest in ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not go to fund or subsidize abortions," the judges wrote in a 3-0 opinion on the regulation according to Politico.
However, not everywhere will comply with the Ninth Circuit's ruling. Politico also reports that a "statewide injunction against the Title X rules remains in place in Maryland, which stems from a lawsuit filed by the City of Baltimore. The Trump administration has asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the injunction."