Nebraska governor signs order defunding Planned Parenthood

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has signed an executive order that defunds Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses from the state's Medicaid program.

Key Takeaways:

• On Thursday, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order barring Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses in the state from receiving state Medicaid funding.

• The decision to defund the abortion giant came following the Supreme Court's ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, in which the Court ruled states can defund Planned Parenthood.

• The money will be redirected to healthcare providers that do not commit abortions.

• Pro-life groups including the Nebraska Catholic Conference and the Nebraska Family Alliance celebrated the news.

Countdown: We must stop funding abortion before America’s 250th birthday

The Details:

Pillen announced the executive order, “Protecting the Life, Health, and Welfare of Pregnant Women, and Unborn Human Life," at a press conference with Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi on Thursday, November 6.

The order states that any business that commits abortions will be barred from the state's Medicaid program, ensuring that there is "not going to be a penny of Nebraska tax dollars" going to abortion businesses. The Medicaid funding that had been given to Planned Parenthood and other abortion-committing facilities, including CARE Reproductive Health (once operated by the now-deceased late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart), will be redirected to "high-quality healthcare providers" that do not commit abortions.

Hilgers noted that, based on state and federal law, tax dollars cannot be spent directly on abortion; however, money is fungible, and any money given to abortion-committing businesses indirectly supports all of their operations.

“We’re not going to let abortion providers skirt accountability while claiming our money,” Pillen said. He added, "From my seat, $1 is too much."

Kenny Zoeller, director of the governor's Policy Research Office, said Nebraska abortion businesses are receiving about $250,000 in state tax dollars each year.

Reactions:

“Nebraska is rightfully taking action to protect life and uphold our state’s pro-life values,” noted Nebraska Family Alliance Executive Director Nate Grasz. “Taxpayer dollars should not be funding abortion clinics or corporations like Planned Parenthood. We applaud Governor Pillen and Attorney General Hilgers for their leadership and unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our state.”

Marion Miner, assistant director of pro-life and family for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said, "(Planned Parenthood) is not an organization that deserves public money or public patronage."

The Backstory:

According to Hilgers, the state had been considering defunding Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program but was awaiting the Supreme Court's decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. In that case, the Court ruled that states have the right to defund Planned Parenthood of Medicaid dollars.

“It is quite clear that Nebraska can take the action that it is taking today,” Hilgers said.

On July 4, the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" was signed into law, defunding Planned Parenthood and certain other abortion providers for one year. Though it was held up in the courts, it is now in effect, and pro-life groups are working to ensure that the defunding is extended.