McDonnell Brags, Women Suffer

This past week, Bob McDonnell bragged to right-wing radio host Laura Ingraham that the Hyde Amendment has been enacted in Virginia. "It was a great win for a pro-life cause," he said.

According to the Washington Post:
"The General Assembly in April approved an amendment to the state budget that will limit funding for abortions to those performed in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother* is at risk. Nothing in state law had previously banned Medicaid-funded abortions in instances when the health of the mother* was in jeopardy."
*This should say "woman" or "pregnant woman." You're not a mother until the baby is born!

The Post continues:
"A small number of abortions -- paid for with state funds -- in cases of deformities can still be performed. But McDonnell, a Catholic who has long opposed abortion, argued that the change will essentially bring Virginia in line with federal law."

McDonnell had promised to defund Planned Parenthood. But it will still receive some state funding - and Ingraham criticized the Gov for that because "Any money they get ends up helping them offset [the cost of] abortion services.''

According to the Post:
"McDonnell said he is not allowed to withhold money from Planned Parenthood -- or other Medicaid providers -- which are required by law to provide abortions and other services."

The Post reports:
Planned Parenthood serves 30,000 women in the state a year. It had been receiving about $35,000 in state funds a year and more than $275,000 from health-care claims.