Columbus — The Ohio Senate Committee on Finance released the newest version of the state budget bill. Substitute House Bill 49 has been amended to add $400,000 to the Parenting and Pregnancy Program, bringing the total allocation to $600,000 over the biennium. This public fund pays so-called “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” (CPCs) that lie to women about pregnancy options, including abortion.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said: “Especially in our current economic climate, the state should be using its limited tax dollars to fund programs that have a proven track record for effectiveness. By giving funding to so-called ‘crisis pregnancy centers,’ the Parenting and Pregnancy Program is directing money to centers that coerce and mislead the people turning to them for help. When women need urgent, legitimate medical advice, these facilities present inflammatory rhetoric and misleading information. These centers should not be getting state funding.”
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