Summary
Legislative proposals in New York State historically do one of two things: either they a) amend the state’s Social Services Law to delete most abortion and abortion-related services from those which can be funded under the medical assistance (Medicaid) program, or they b) amend the annual state budget to prohibit the use of Medicaid dollars within the annual budget from funding abortions.

In recent years, exceptions have been included in these proposals which allow funding for abortions in cases of reported rape, incest, or endangerment of the mother’s life.

Conference Position
The Catholic Conference supports these proposals which restrict or prohibit the use of state taxpayers’ dollars for the purpose of performing abortions. The Conference advocates that the expenditure of these monies instead be directed toward the goal of producing healthy birth outcomes and providing income security to decrease the perceived need for abortions.

Rationale
The U.S. Supreme Court has been clear in ruling that no state must fund abortion. In Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989) the Court said, “Nothing in the Constitution requires states to enter or remain in the business of performing abortions.”

New York is one of only four states (Hawaii, Maryland and Washington) which voluntarily compel taxpayers to pay for elective abortions. Another 13 states (Illinois, Alaska, Arizona, West Virginia, Oregon, New Mexico, Minnesota, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Montana and Vermont) do so because they are required to by court order. The vast majority of states follow the lead of the federal government in funding only those abortions necessary to save the life of the mother, and those performed following reported cases of rape or incest (the federal Hyde Amendment).

A November 2003 publication from New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, details that in the year 2000 there were 58,740 abortions funded by the Medicaid program in New York State at an adjusted cost to taxpayers of $45.4 million. According to the most recent statistics from the State Health Department, 47,056 abortions were funded by NYS taxpayers in 2004. Yet citizens do not want their tax dollars subsidizing abortions. A 1999 Zogby International “American Values” poll found 71% of Americans opposed to publicly-funded partial-birth abortions. A 1994 poll by the Journal of the American Medical Association found 69% of Americans opposing abortion coverage in any health care reform benefits package.

Limiting abortion funding can only help to lessen the tragedy of abortion. The state should be offering poor pregnant women and their unborn children choices and alternatives to enable both of them to live. Those who advocate abortion suggest that it is cheaper to abort the children of the poor than to care for them after birth. Yet, as a caring society, we must provide the basic necessities to sustain life—adequate housing, nutrition, clothing, education, employment and child care. For poor women, abortion is an act of desperation, not an act of choice.