A new law will go into effect on July 1 taking $2 million from low-income families and giving it to Planned Parenthood.

A law requiring Maryland taxpayers to fund Planned Parenthood if the federal government defunds the abortion merchant will go into effect on July 1. The law sat on Gov. Hogan’s desk but did not receive his signature or a veto. This means, without his support, the law will go into effect. Why the self-described pro-life governor did not veto the legislation is unclear.

The law stipulates that if the federal government defunds Planned Parenthood, Maryland will take $2 million from the Medicaid fund for low-income families and give it to the abortion chain. Another $700,000 from the state’s general fund will also be given. Rather than helping low-income families with their healthcare, Maryland has decided to prioritize abortion. And all of it will be paid for with our tax money.

Commenting on news that the law would go into effect, Karen Nelson, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Maryland told The Hill:

“As Marylanders, we must remember that a state solution does not change the fact that politicians in Congress are trying to prohibit millions of people from accessing care at Planned Parenthood. It’s incumbent on all of us to keep up the fight for women. No state should have to step in to fulfill the federal government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has access to care.”

This is an absolutely false and absurd statement. First no one is trying to keep anyone from accessing anything at Planned Parenthood. The push in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood is not about removing access to their services, it’s about not using tax money to support the so-called “non-profit.” Americans have, for some time now, made it clear that they do not want their tax dollars being used to fund abortion. Congress is listening and seeking to remove the federal tax dollars, not access.

Additionally, it is not the federal government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has access to abortion. The government can condone abortion if it chooses, but it has no responsibility to ensure everyone has access to it. Abortion is not a right secured in the Constitution, despite what abortion advocates would have us think. Since it’s not a right, it’s not the federal government’s job to secure abortion access.

Furthermore, Karen Nelson would like us all to believe that Planned Parenthood does more than abortion. But the reality is that outside of handing out condoms and pregnancy tests, they really don’t do anything. They don’t do mammograms. They don’t do prenatal care. Planned Parenthood is an abortion business. They do abortions.

But Karen Nelson isn’t the only one trying to fool Marylanders into thinking Planned Parenthood cares about more than abortion. Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. shared his support for Planned Parenthood and the new law by saying:

“While I wish our state didn’t need to fight the attacks on comprehensive health care by Congress, we are proud to stand up and protect access in Maryland.”

To say that Planned Parenthood offers “comprehensive” health care is nothing short of a lie. There is nothing comprehensive about their services. Unless of course you are seeking an abortion, then they are very comprehensive. If you are seeking anything else, you will find yourself out of luck. Telling people that Planned Parenthood is a comprehensive health care provider is misleading and the senator should apologize for lying.

In fact, as the Planned Parenthood has been granted more federal money they have focused their efforts more on abortion. All other services have dropped and some aren’t even offered (mammograms); while abortions have increased. Even in developing countries where comprehensive health care is a real need, Planned Parenthood has focused on abortion.

I don’t know why Gov. Hogan chose to let this law go into effect. Not only does it fund a group that many people oppose for their immoral work of abortion, it harms low-income families by taking their funding. This simply makes no sense. And, unfortunately, we now have to pay for something that we find offensive and immoral.

I still hope the federal government defunds Planned Parenthood, even if it means my tax dollars in Maryland will go to the abortion merchant. It would be a victory to see the half billion dollars our government has been giving Planned Parenthood reallocated to a worthy cause. It will mean the end of abortion-only centers across the country and that would be a welcome change.

In Maryland we must let our elected officials know that we do not support Planned Parenthood or their brand of “health services.” Planned Parenthood doesn’t want anyone to know that if every one of their clinics in Maryland closed, no one seeking real health services would notice. Let’s make sure they are keenly aware of this reality.