New York Governor Kathy Hochul approved a budget set forward by state lawmakers last week that includes funding for abortion.
At the same time, New York Attorney General Letitia James informed pregnancy centers in the state of her intent to sue them for promoting so-called “abortion pill reversal,” which involves the administration of the natural pregnancy hormone progesterone in an effort to outcompete the action of the abortion pill mifepristone, which blocks progesterone. On May 6, AG James followed through on her threat and officially filed suit, according to Pregnancy Help News.
Included in the 2025 fiscal year budget is $36 million earmarked for abortion businesses to increase abortion access in the state. Twenty-five million of the funding is for the state’s Abortion Access Program, which aims to establish the state as a “safe haven” for abortion, while $10 million is a capital investment for “enhancing security and safety operations” for abortion businesses.
“It sends a strong message to our communities and pregnant people that New York is and will continue to be a beacon of care for people who need access to abortion care,” Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas told Playbook of the budget measure.
Despite the funding, some abortion advocates are upset that even more money hasn’t been allocated to the killing of preborn children, as many pro-abortion lawmakers had advocated for $50 million that would have included funding for abortion travel and hotel stays for those looking to get an abortion.
“New York needs to be a lot more aggressive about meeting the needs of our residents and people who need access to [abortion] in this really difficult time,” said Robin Chappelle Golston, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts.
Hochul’s office countered that the governor has already done much to promote abortion in the state. “Gov. Hochul is committed to protecting reproductive freedoms in New York and has taken significant steps to expand abortion access, including investing more than $130 million for abortion providers over the past two budgets,” her spokeswoman Aja Worthy-Davis said in a statement. “With women’s rights under attack nationwide, Hochul will always fight to ensure New York is a safe harbor for anyone who needs abortion care.”
Not every lawmaker was on board with the funding. Assemblymember Mike Reilly called the allocation “a major concern.”
“People who don’t align with the ability to have an abortion don’t want taxpayer funding to pay for that,” he said. “I don’t support public funding, paying for it. I think people in New York have the right to decide where their funds go.”
Right to Life also noted that the money would have been much better used helping mothers and families who need assistance, rather than pushing abortion as the only solution.
“We know that there are better answers to problems than killing a child,” Right to Life Committee spokeswoman Lori Kehoe said. “If the state of New York would dedicate more resources to helping moms and families in crisis and stop pushing killing as an answer, our whole state would be healthier and certainly more whole.”
Editor’s Note, 5/12/24: This post has been updated with additional information on AG James’ lawsuit against PRCs.
