Though the Insight Women’s Center sits at the epicenter of a pitched battle in the nation’s culture wars, the only indication of its faith-based mission to prevent people from getting abortions is its jazzy, piano rendition of “Jesus Loves Me.” room.
The Republican-controlled Kansas legislature is considering allocating millions of dollars in state funds to similar anti-abortion centers that provide people with free pregnancy tests and sonograms, as well as counseling and parenting taught by volunteers. They persuade her to complete her pregnancy by offering classes. They are also considering offering millions more in income tax credits for donors to what they call “crisis pregnancy centers.”
When the U.S. The Supreme Court last year in Roe v. Wade and gave control of abortion policy to the states, it led to restrictions and bans in some states, and executive orders and laws protecting access in others. Those debates continue, but perhaps less attention has been paid to how this change has fueled a renewed fight over taxpayer money.
Supporters say the effort shows that anti-abortionists are addressing the social and financial needs of families. But critics say the amount of new funding proposed for organizations like Insight – either in direct funding or tax credits for their donors – is needed to improve people’s access to health care and address ongoing poverty. .
“You funnel money through a short-term solution that appears as if you are doing something,” said Alisha Doan, associate professor at the University of Kansas, who has read and written books about abortion politics.
Increasingly, liberal cities and states are funding abortion access, including telemedicine, which has seen significant growth, with more than half of American abortions now performed with pills rather than surgery. Meanwhile, states with GOP legislatures and governors are looking to pour more taxpayer money into organizations that talk to people about ending their pregnancies.
Legislative committees held a hearing Thursday on proposals for a 70% income tax credit to donors supporting anti-abortion centers, with a cap of $10 million in total credits. A Senate committee could vote this week.
This is similar to a long-standing Missouri law that provides income tax credits to donors who support anti-abortion centers. Arizona has such a law, and Mississippi’s Republican House Speaker is trying to expand the cap on the tax credit to $10 million, up from the $3.5 million authorized last year.
Arkansas and Oklahoma are considering adding a similar tax credit, according to the National Right to Life Committee.
In Missouri, donors to anti-abortion centers have received a total of $15 million in state tax credits over the past five years, and a state analysis estimates that the centers served about 43,000 people last year.
Abortion opponents have operated centers like Insight for decades, and the practice of conservative-led states giving them financial aid predates Dobbs — in June’s Roe v. The decision to overturn Wade.
On the abortion-rights side, Oregon lawmakers last year created a $15 million abortion-access fund, with the first $1 million going to a nonprofit that covers patients’ travel and the cost of procedures. California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Washington have also allocated or are considering allocating public funding for abortion and related services.
Last year in New Mexico, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pledged $10 million in state funds to build a new abortion clinic.
Morgan Hopkins, president of the abortion-rights advocacy group All (Asterisk) Above All, praised the funding. “The budget is a reflection of our values,” he said.
Kansas already provides grants to programs that provide prenatal care, and encourages people to carry their pregnancies up to term. But it spent less than $339,000 of the $24 billion state budget on the program — and gave two grants totaling less than $74,000 to anti-abortion centers.
Now, some opponents of abortion talk about emulating Missouri’s $8 million-plus annual funding, as well as income tax credits.
Abortion rights advocates are frustrated that the push for such support is coming so soon after an August 2 statewide vote decisively rejected a proposed amendment to the Kansas constitution that would have given legislators the power to outlaw abortion. Restricts or allows to restrict too much.
“I have general concern that we are not honoring the very clear will of the voters,” said state Sen. Ethan Corson, a Kansas City-area Democrat who serves on the Senate Tax Committee.
Abortion rights advocates say the centers lure patients from abortion clinics with free services, give them false medical information and consult people who are not trained doctors. Some see the funding to them as a political gesture designed to make abortion bans less draconian.
Abortion opponents argue that centers such as Insight provide a wide range of prenatal and postnatal classes, among other assistance to patients. They also argue that boosting funding for free services after the August vote is a promise not to leave parents and families out.
In Lawrence, where the nearest abortion clinic is a 40-minute drive away, Korbe Bohack, 28, is still visiting the Insight Center, nearly 8 months after the birth of her son, Winston. She told legislators that the classes and counseling make her a better, more confident parent — and help maintain her mental health. He called it “a safety net”.
The Insight Center, which is only a few miles from the University of Kansas, has two sonogram nurses, and a doctor and radiologist who occasionally volunteer their time. But the services mostly depend on around 50 volunteers. The annual budget of $340,000 is provided mostly by private donations, but the organization received a community development grant in 2014 to start a parent education program.
Center staff said that although they do not refer clients to abortion providers, they do discuss abortion as an option. She said some patients she met had miscarriages, although it was not possible to verify the confidentiality protocols given to patients.
Insight has two separate waiting rooms – one for its educational programs and the other for medical services. Executive director Brigitte Smith said one reason is that it prevents pregnant patients from being affected by seeing infants and children.
Smith said she believes the proposed tax credit will increase donations, helping Insight start a maternity home for the homeless.
“We’re trying to build strong individuals and strong families. And isn’t that what we all want?” Smith said. “Even for the woman who chooses not to parent, we still want her to be strong and healthy after the decision is made.”