Today the Trump administration took aim at California, specifically, in the pro-life movement. According to the Associated Press, the move coincides with Trump’s plan to address the participants of the March for Life event being held in D.C. The federal Health and Human Services Department said it is issuing a ‘notice of violation,’ to the state of California. The notice gives California 30 days to comply with a law called the ‘Weldon amendment.’
The law “bars federal health care funding from being provided to states or entities that practice ‘discrimination’ against a health care organization on the basis that it ‘does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions” explained the Associated Press. President Trump will be the first president to make a personal appearance and speak to the participants of the anti-abortion March For Life.
Head of the Health and Human Services civil rights office, Roger Severino, explains California has not been compliant with the law because the state was requiring insurance plans to cover abortions. According to Severino, “28,000 Californians had abortion-free plans prior to the state’s requirements and have now lot that option.” Additionally, the federal government has received complaints from nuns and a church.
Severino said “If states receive federal funds…they cannot discriminate against a health plan that declines to cover abortions.” Severino also said he hopes to avoid ending federal funding for specific organizations, and that the ball is in California’s court. “Our goal is to seek compliance, and we are going to give them 30 days, so we do not have to cross that bridge.”
Federal law refuses the use of taxpayer money to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman. Under the Trump Administration, Health and Human Services civil rights office added a new division to address discrimination on the basis of “religious or moral scruples.”
