Controversy is mounting ahead of a Travis County board vote. The HealthCare District will decide Thursday evening whether tax dollars should pay for abortions for women who can't afford them.
The board will hold a public hearing Thursday on the $450,000 contracts with Whole Woman's Health of Austin and Austin Women's Health Center to serve the district's Medical Assistance Program. The program serves uninsured county residents who earn less than $10,830 per year if they live alone and $14,570 if they're in a household of two.
The county has been under a contract that allots certain tax payer dollars toward what’s described as women’s health services.
“Without medical assistance program funding these women would resort very possibly to back alleys and to unsafe places to terminate pregnancies that are unwanted,” said Ken Lambrecht of Planned Parenthood.
The contract on the five-year program ends this month. Before it's renewed, the Healthcare District Board will listen to public opinion.
It's a heated issue. A November CNN poll found that most Americans don't support tax funded programs that provide abortion services. According to the poll, 61 percent oppose it while 37 percent favor the public funding.
“In a time where tax dollars are scarce and people are losing their home property tax dollars should not be used to pay for abortions on healthy women. The reality is we know there (are) federal laws and state laws that prevent this type of taxpayer dollars being used to fund abortions,” said Jonathan Saenz, Free Market Foundation.
If the Travis County Healthcare Board approves another contract, it will last one year. Staff recommendations for the board suggest incorporating three renewal options.
The money would get split between three clinics in town that would provide the abortions including: Austin Women’s Health Center, Whole Woman’s Health of Austin and Planned Parenthood.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2009. It will be held at the Ned Granger building at 304 W. 11th Street in downtown Austin.
