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Pennsylvania Governor Defunds Abortion Alternatives Program After 30 Years

Funding pro-life activities has been a priority in Pennsylvania since the mid-1990s, when former Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey, a pro-life Democrat, added funding to the state budget for a program providing abortion alternatives. Real Alternatives has had a contract with the state for more than 27 years and in that time it has served nearly 350,000 women in 1.9 million office visits. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently announced he will end that contract.
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Pennsylvania Governor Defunds Abortion Alternatives Program After 30 Years
Planned Parenthood leaders met with newly sworn in Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, on Jan. 19, 2023. Left to right: Sydney Etheredge, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western PA; Dayle Steinberg, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA; Gov. Josh Shapiro; Melissa Reed, CEO Planned Parenthood Keystone; Signe Espinoza, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood PA Advocates. Courtesy Planned Parenthood
Beth Brelje
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Abortion provider Planned Parenthood has been a longtime donor to political campaigns for offices held by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. It endorsed him for governor. Mr. Shapiro highlighted abortion in his inauguration speech, hired Planned Parenthood employees for his administration, and on his third day in office, hosted Planned Parenthood leadership at a meeting at the Capitol about expanding abortion access.

Planned Parenthood has had a few things on its wish list, including ending funding of crisis pregnancy centers. With the support of Democratic state lawmakers, there have been press conferences pushing the same idea at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.

Beth Brelje
Beth Brelje
Reporter
Beth Brelje is a former reporter with The Epoch Times. Ms. Brelje previously worked in radio for 20 years and after moving to print, worked at Pocono Record and Reading Eagle.
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