Austin, Texas – July 16, 2015: Texas leaders were swift to condemn the felonious actions of Planned Parenthood on Tuesday when disturbing undercover footage of a top PP official revealed that the federally-funded nonprofit has been illegally trafficking the body parts of preborn children killed in abortions at their facilities, and committing illegal Partial-Birth Abortions to procure the “intact” heads and vital organs of preborn children. Planned Parenthood’s actions are horrific but unsurprising: The organization is notorious for dangerous, illegal activities, and Texas Right to Life has spent years working successfully to peel Planned Parenthood’s nefarious tentacles from our state’s coffers.
Texas’ Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General are among the outspoken Pro-Life leaders working diligently to demand investigations and oversight that will ensure higher standards of medical ethics within Planned Parenthood. To this end, Governor Greg Abbott has launched a statewide investigation into Planned Parenthood’s abortion affiliates. In a press release, the Governor stated: “In light of the video, I have directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to conduct an immediate investigation of this alleged practice in addition to a separate investigation ordered by the Texas Office of the Attorney General.” During his term as Attorney General, Abbott held Planned Parenthood accountable for stealing tens of millions in taxpayer dollars during a protracted period of Medicaid fraud (in addition to ongoing cases of the crime). Texas Right to Life appreciates that Governor Abbott sees through the rhetoric of the state’s largest abortion business and understands that Planned Parenthood is a profit-driven company that will cut any corners necessary to make money.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched his own investigation into Planned Parenthood as well. In a press release, the Pro-Life AG described Planned Parenthood’s actions as “calculated slaughter of human babies to maximize the available body parts they plan to sell.” “The video,” said Paxton, “offers a glimpse into an organization that knowingly and deliberately destroys human life to further its bottom line.”
Dr. Charles Schwertner, Chairman of the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, has been among the most outspoken Texas legislators in the wake of Tuesday’s revelations. In a statement on Facebook, he said: “The recent video showing a senior Planned Parenthood executive casually discussing the sale of organs and dismembered body parts of aborted human babies is unquestionably one of the most evil and deplorable things I've ever seen.”
The Chairman acknowledged that “many Texans are equally horrified by such a callous disregard for innocent human life,” and he stated that he will call an emergency meeting of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services later in July “to ascertain whether this appalling practice is currently taking place in Texas, and if so, what steps can be taken to put a swift and decisive stop to it.” In his own press release, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stated that Schwertner’s Committee, “will report back to the full Senate on Planned Parenthood’s business practices conducted in Texas, and make whatever recommendations are appropriate” after their emergency meeting concludes.
Texas Right to Life has known the truth about the profit-driven abortion business for years and has worked to ensure taxpayer dollars are not promoting or propping up this morally reprehensible organization. In 2011, during the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature, Texas Right to Life played a crucial role in ensuring massive cuts to taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. We worked with committed Pro-Life legislators to halt $64M in taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood’s abortion business, redirecting the funds to worthy causes that Texans were proud to stand behind. We continued in this effort this year in the 84th Session removing the abortion industry from taxpayer funded programs like the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening program and High School Sex Education programs to ensure that taxpayer dollars are supporting organizations that share Texas’ Pro-Life values. However, the job is not finished, and Texas Right to Life is committed to the objective of fully defunding Planned Parenthood as long as they continue to jeopardize and disregard the lives of Texas women and preborn children. We commend the dedicated Texas voters who have installed stalwart Pro-Life leaders at the helm of our state to ensure success in this endeavor.