Texas needs a budget that is Pro-Life

The Pro-Life Scorecard is one of the most reliable tools for Texas voters who want the truth about who leads, who follows, and who is subverting Pro-Life legislative efforts under the Capitol dome. As the session progresses, Texas Right to Life ardently watches and analyzes legislation and amendments that impact Pro-Life initiatives.

After the close of the 85th Session of the Texas Legislature, Texas Right to Life will release a detailed report of the Pro-Life efforts and missed opportunities that occurred this session.

Pro-Life Scorecard Alert – Thursday, April 6,

On Thursday, April 6, the Texas House will debate and vote on C.S.S.B. 1, the two-year budget bill for the entire state. The budget outlines and establishes the priorities for the state legislature, including Pro-Life priorities. Currently, the Pro-Life Alternatives to Abortion program is underfunded, and the abortion industry, including Planned Parenthood, is still eligible for taxpayer funding through the budget.

Since the Alternatives to Abortion program was established in 2005, the program has substantially grown into a robust, statewide social service network contracting with pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes. Services include counseling, parenting classes, providing diapers and formula, as well as job skill training. The budget from the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature appropriated $18.3 million, which fostered expansion of the number of service providers and geographical areas served. However, the current shortfall during this fiscal year leaves invoices unpaid plus a waiting list of qualified providers wishing to enter the program. Yet, insufficient funds limit the program and their reach. Governor Abbott has called for $35 million to fund the Alternatives to Abortion appropriation for the 2018-2019 biennium. C.S.S.B. 1 only funds the program at $18.3 million for the biennium and many pre-filed Pro-Life amendments would increase the program’s funding.

Votes on the following issues are eligible for scoring in Texas Right to Life’s Pro-Life Scorecard for the 85th Session:

Amendment on page 58 by Uresti	Defunds Alternatives to Abortion program	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 60 by Shaheen	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $35 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 96 by Hinojosa	Defunds Alternatives to Abortion program	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 111 by Thierry	Defunds Alternatives to Abortion program	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 114 by Walle	Contingency rider funding the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force	Texas Right to Life is NEUTRAL
Amendment on page 118 by Eddie Rodriquez	Amends the data collection requirements for adolescent pregnancy rates	Texas Right to Life is NEUTRAL
Amendment on page 124 by Phil King	Establishes a donation-funded grant program covering costs of cremation and burial of fetal remains	Texas Right to Life is NEUTRAL
Amendment on page 125 by Schofield	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $35 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 126 by Lang	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $35 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 129 by Schofield	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $35 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 130 by Shaheen	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $35 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 131 by Leach	Allocated $10 million to Healthy Texas Women program for outreach and marketing	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 132 by Rose	Defunds Alternatives to Abortion program	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 133 by Turner	Removes $8 million from Alternatives to Abortion program	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 134 by Krause	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $53.3 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 144 by Minjarez	Instructs HHSC to study elder abuse and violations of law in state-supported nursing homes	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 164 by Arevalo	Establishes additional HHSC committee to undermine women’s health programs	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 166 by Leach	Adds “marketing” to the definition of indirect support of abortion using state funds	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 167 by Wu	Requires report on Healthy Texas Women program to include procedure codes of services provided	Texas Right to Life is NEUTRAL
Amendment on page 168 by Wu	Requires report on Healthy Texas Women program to include procedure codes of services provided	Texas Right to Life is NEUTRAL
Amendment on page 169 by Arevalo	Strikes abortion prohibition on Healthy Texas Women and family planning programs	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 176 by Cain	Strikes earmark of state funding for Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council, which espouses anti-Life policies and principles	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 187 by Schofield	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $35 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 188 by Uresti	Undermines Abstinence Education program	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 225 by Arevalo	Attack on “A Woman’s Right to Know” booklet	Texas Right to Life OPPOSES
Amendment on page 243 by Bonnen, M.D.	Increases funding of Alternatives to Abortion program to $28.3 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 366 by Cain	Prohibits state dollars from funding research involving destruction of human embryos	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 368 by Cain	Prohibits state dollars from buying or conducting research on aborted human fetal tissue	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 370 by Springer	Defunds state agencies, departments, or schools that fund abortion providers. Does not stop state agencies from funding affiliates of abortion providers	Texas Right to Life is NEUTRAL
Amendment on page 379 by Rinaldi	Budget-wide prohibition on state funding of abortion providers and their affiliates	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 381 by Schaefer	Budget-wide prohibition on state funding of abortion providers and their affiliates	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS
Amendment on page 457 by Leach	Increases Healthy Texas Women outreach and marketing by $5 million	Texas Right to Life SUPPORTS