Last November, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a memo detailing its significant financial problems. The most troubling revelation was that OHA violated federal law by using $1.8 million of federal funds to pay for abortions.
The Hyde Amendment, which has been federal law for the last 40 years, prohibits federal funds from being spent on abortions, except for in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger. (Less than two percent of all abortions occur for those reasons.) Unless this money was spent over an incredibly long period of time, it is clear that Oregon is violating federal law, having spent federal tax dollars on abortions that don’t fit Hyde’s exceptions.
Additionally, with last year’s passage of an abortion bill (HB 3391), Oregon is likely violating the Weldon Amendment. This federal law prevents states from forcing insurance companies to cover abortions, which is precisely what HB 3391 does.
Our pro-abortion governor Kate Brown, along with those she has appointed to positions of authority, cannot be trusted to follow federal law. Their actions could lead to serious consequences for Oregon, as the federal government provides billions of dollars of funding with very specific requirements attached. This money could be withheld if the state continues to violate federal law.
Pro-life advocates already know that pro-abortion leaders in Oregon’s government refuse to protect unborn Oregonians. They should also know that Oregon’s disregard for federal law, at a time when pro-life leaders in the federal government hold significant power over states, risks serious consequences that could affect us all.
