Governor Shapiro announces his administration will not defend Pennsylvania’s longstanding law to protect taxpayer funds from paying for elective abortions. 

(HARRISBURG, PA – July 16, 2024) In his first week in office, Governor Josh Shapiro, prioritized meeting with Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, in what was a quick repayment for their endorsement early in his campaign.[1]

Today, in further compensation to his pro-abortion allies, Shapiro announced that his administration will not only not defend in court Pennsylvania’s decades-long prohibition on taxpayer funding of abortion through Medicaid but stated that his Administration “looks forward to making our arguments in Court and is urging the Court to strike down this ban.” This is wrong but not surprising.

“This decision leaves the taxpaying citizens of Pennsylvania without a voice on one of the most debated and divisive issues of our time and virtually clears the path for court-mandated taxpayer funding of the taking of innocent human life through abortion, and more,” said Michael Geer, President of Pennsylvania Family Institute.

The case, Allegheny Reproductive vs. PA Dept of Human Services [2]  was brought by a consortium of abortion entities, including Planned Parenthood. It seeks not only taxpayer funding but also asks the court to declare [invent] a constitutional right to abortion, which could lead to the removal of any and all limitations and safety regulations on abortion in Pennsylvania.

“Our system and the rule of law demand that both sides in a case have legitimate legal advocacy of their positions. In this case, Pennsylvania’s duly enacted Abortion Control Act, supported by a large segment of the population, is left without a defender, as the Shapiro administration (which should be defending the law) walks into court in lockstep with the abortion industry that sued the Commonwealth and its people,” added Geer.

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Pennsylvania Family Institute is a leading pro-life and pro-family state-based organization. 

To request an interview, contact Alexis Sneller at 717-545-0600 or asneller@pafamily.org. 


[1]https://penncapital-star.com/health-care/in-first-week-as-governor-shapiro-prioritizes-meeting-with-planned-parenthood-advocates/

[2]https://www.pacourts.us/news-and-statistics/cases-of-public-interest/allegheny-reproductive-health-center-et-al-v-pa-department-of-human-services-et-al