In his order, Governor Kevin Stitt (R) commands Oklahoma agencies to end all public funding for organizations and individuals who are not just involved in providing abortions but also those even 'affiliated with' them. This decision was made after the result of Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Supreme Court case, which subsequently allowed states to block abortion providers to their Medicaid program is they so choose.
In a statement, Stitt said, “Oklahoma is a pro-life state, and if you're tied to the abortion industry, you won't get a dime of taxpayer funding here.”
AFN connected with Tsipporah Valderrama, president of the pro-life group Wanted Alive.
"We appreciate Governor Kevin Stitts' leadership - protecting unborn lives aligns with scientific evidence – stating abortion is rarely, if ever, medically necessary to save a mother's life. So, we're in agreement with that," Valderrama says.
She said her team believes that taxpayers' funds should not support an organization whose practices may conflict with community well-being. This includes promoting sexually biased education over scientific rigor.
“I believe taxpayers' money can be more profitable if they were used to bring in the type of education that is scientifically backed and helps young people make choices for their lives that will help them not end up in situations where they feel dependent on abortions," states Valderrama.
Valderrama made the case that Planned Parenthood should rely on private funding rather than public dollars.
"In contrast, small organizations like Wanted Alive, which I'm the founder of along with some friends – we struggle financially to provide critical support to parents facing unplanned pregnancies," Valderrama reveals.
She said there are studies that have found that 60% of women who had abortions would have chosen to give birth with greater emotional or financial support. Many of these women experienced regret, guilt, and sadness, which was often tied to coercion or lack of resources.
“These findings underscore the complex, emotional impact of abortion and the urgent need for community-based solutions," Valderrama says. "Women choose abortion oftentimes due to financial fears, and they are unaware of organizations like ours ready to assist them from pregnancy through parenthood.”
Valderrama says Life Action, which is another major pro-life organization, reports that abortions make up for 27 children a day that are lost. To illustrate that, she said 27 is a classroom of children.
"Twenty-seven children a day are lost to abortion, and they're not even given a proper burial. So, we're pleased to operate in a state where the governor stands to protect these innocent lives, as well as their parents, from future regrets," Valderrama concludes.
She said her team at Wanted Alive is excited to see these changes in Oklahoma, and she hopes other states' governors will follow suit.
