The Patriot Post® · Wisconsin Purges Planned Parenthood of Funding

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker sure knows how to get things done. His state joins Ohio as the latest to purge Planned Parenthood of taxpayer support. CBS News reports:

> “One of the two bills the Republican governor signed at a faith-based counseling clinic in Waukesha requires clinics that participate in a federal program that allows them to purchase discounted drugs to bill Medicaid for the actual acquisition costs and a dispensing fee. The change will cost Planned Parenthood an estimated $4.5 million per year, according to the organization, because lower reimbursement rates are offered to clinics linked to abortion services. … The other bill Walker signed at Life’s Connection prevents the state from directing any federal Title X grant money to an organization or affiliate that provides abortions. That could mean a loss of $3.5 million in federal dollars for Planned Parenthood.”

One counter strategy used by Democrats is to argue that abortion is really all about health care. Enter Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s Nicole Safar, who complained, “It really is disingenuous to be talking about cuts to health care at an organization that provides religious counseling, but no health care.” While moral convictions compel governors like Walker to defend all life, others, like Safer, masquerade behind “health care” to make religious institutions appear the guilty ones. Thankfully, more and more states aren’t buying what they’re selling. Literally and figuratively.

Scott Walker had defied political firestorm after political firestorm. His impressive résumé exemplifies a genuine American conservative. He’s successfully taken on Big Labor (and further agitated unions by winning a recall election), said no to Medicaid expansion and Common Core, implemented a pro-growth economic policy that saw unemployment drop from 9.2% to 5.2%, balanced the budget, and, yes, fought ardently for the unborn. It’s a shame he was swept so quickly out of the GOP race. Yet all the remaining candidates can learn from his accomplishments, beginning with embracing this reality: You can have a conservative manifesto and succeed.