Throughout President Trump’s tenure, his administration has supported the pro-life initiative. They’ve also sought ways to punish organizations and entities that support abortion.
And Trump’s team just fired another salvo in the ongoing battle — though one Democrat governor definitely isn’t happy with the result.
To be specific, the Trump admin made two strong moves:
First, according to a press release issued by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil rights, they’re blocking $200 million in federal Medicaid funds set for California.
HHS cites a breach of the law as the reason behind the decision.
From Fox News:
…HHS said it would block $200 million in federal Medicaid funds slated for California ‘due to the state illegally mandating that all health care plans subject to regulation by the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) cover abortion without exclusion or limitation.’
The President and his allies have often taken this hard-nosed stance against abortion.
They’ve railed against healthcare plans that offer abortion as an option. And in this case, HHS claims it’s illegal for California to require that healthcare plans in the state cover abortion.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar says the state “violated federal conscience laws and refused to work with us to take corrective action.”
As one might expect, California Governor Gavin Newsom blasted the decision, accusing the Trump administration of making the pandemic worse by withholding those healthcare funds:
Nothing like the “pro-life” party eliminating healthcare during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
California will survive without this $$ for now — but their frail, pathetic patriarchal system they are so desperate to protect won’t. https://t.co/FNDbqpOhEy
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) December 17, 2020
But Trump’s team didn’t stop there.
They also referred an ongoing case to the Justice department. This involved a nurse who was allegedly forced to assist in an elective abortion, and the DOJ is now probing the University of Vermont Medical Center.
The medical center would only say they didn’t think the nurse was discriminated against.
However, with the DOJ now involved, they’re going to have to prove that the nurse wasn’t coerced. And California will remain without those funds, at least for the time being.
These moves represent what many deem to be the “most pro-life” presidency in American history. Vice President Mike Pence has also spoken out in favor of pro-life policies in recent years.
This is subject to change under a Joe Biden administration, of course.
But for the time being, Trump’s team will maintain their pro-life stance, which garnered them so much support during their campaign.
Source: Fox News