Five states — Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas — have spent a combined $3,228,000 defending strict anti-abortion laws over the past several years. But it’s not like that money has no better purpose. Here’s a tally of what these states are spending the money to defend — and what they could get instead.
KANSAS
Kansas has spent more than $1 million to have private law firms defend anti-abortion laws enacted over the last three years, including $179,000 in attorneys’ fees and expenses for federal and state lawsuits last year.
What Kansans are getting for that money: Kansas has enacted some of the harshest anti-abortion laws in the nation, including an omnibus measure to block tax breaks for abortion providers, require doctors to tell women about the disputed link between abortion and breast cancer, and define life as beginning at conception in the state constitution. The state has also attempted to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict elective insurance coverage for abortion.
What they could get instead: After Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signed tax cuts into law, education spending was estimated to drop $216 per student on top of a $745 decline between 2008 and 2013. The state is spending so little on public education that last year a panel of state judges ruled it has to increase funding by $440 million. That million-dollar figure spent on defending anti-abortion laws could also go to restoring some programs Brownback vetoed, such as the Local Environmental Protection Program, which cost $800,000. That program helped monitor water systems, and without it state officials warned that the state could see more health problems, lawsuits, and local fees for installing septic tanks and other systems.
TEXAS
RH Reality Check recently uncovered that the attorney general’s office has spent about $650,000 in taxpayer money litigating anti-abortion laws.What Texans are getting for that money: Texas made national headlines this past summer for enacting a stringent package of abortion restrictions that is forcing abortion clinics across the Lone Star State to close their doors, leaving thousands of womenwithout access to legal abortion care. Since then, the state has spent $120,000 defending the new law. Texas has also shelled out money to defend a controversial law requiring abortion doctors to show women the image of their ultrasound before performing the procedure. Of course, this doesn’t even include the other attacks of reproductive rights that Texas has advanced over the past several years, like its successful push to slash funding for family planning services and defund Planned Parenthood.What they could get instead: Programs are still climbing out of deep holes created when the state had a $27 billion budget shortfall in 2011. Although it’s now dealing with a likely $8 billion surplus, that won’t make up for the money needed to fund critical programs. It slashed public education by $5.4 billion and last year the Texas Education Agency needed $630 million to pay school districts what they were owed from the Foundation School Program — perhaps a better use of that $648,340.13 spent on its anti-abortion law. The Medicaid program needed $4.4 billion. The state recently converted 80 miles of paved road to gravel because budget shortfalls are blocking necessary safety upgrades — it will fall $5 billion short of what it needs to maintain roads.
what this shows is an insane drive to corral women and take complete control over their lives, they may not call it a war on women because women are not fight back with any noticeable action, i don't think that's it but will be interesting if it is stated as a reason.
this would be their kind of war were the opponent is somewhat docile and a easy target like they said about Iraq well let's wish them the same fate a botched effort. i tink there may be some incentive on the right wing if women come out against them Nov. 4th, but that is their choice fight for it or live with it.
there are other states that choose bigotry or constituents, they have been getting away with it for decades, now women hold more power than before exercising it makes it stronger, neglected makes it weak and null and void. men get out there with your women, daughters, mothers, sisters show the republicans they are loved and your vote lays in the balance too, the more support the quicker the change.
