Some time around 1974 the City of Austin began turning out the lights on the unborn poor. Tonight the light shines a bit brighter for them. Most would count tonight a great loss. I count it as the small step toward shining the light on a dark part of Austin in need of more exposure.
This past October we became aware of expiring "termination service" contracts between the Travis County Health District (TCHD) and local Austin abortion providers. Thanks to people like Dina Meyer and Dr. Joe Pojman of Texas Alliance for Life the vote on those contracts was pushed out to November. Additional light and pressure was applied and the decision was put off again. Finally, tonight the board voted.
Large complaints could be lobbied over the stacked deck of cards the TCHD staff dealt out tonight at the public hearing. The deception surrounding this issue is astounding. Rather, let's focus on the positive. Railroad Commissioner, Victor Carrillo, spoke boldly on behalf of the unborn poor. TCHD board member Clarke Heidrick publicly acknowledged the deception associated with the presentation and hearings on the 2004 contract accepted from the City of Austin. He also expressed concerns over the counseling offered by money driven abortion providers. Another member offered an amendment to fund abortion alternatives to the tune of $450,000. Much light as been shed on the situation, and faithful followers of Christ have been awaken to this issue.
The Austin community has come together to fight this battle, and we have only just begun. Texas Alliance for Life, the Catholic Diosese of Austin, the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, Austin Coalition for Life, Free Market Foundation, the Austin Area Pastor Council and many taxpaying citizens have united to bring an end to "termination services" funded by Travis County property taxes.
Ultimately we know that being born poor is much better than being killed in the womb. Ultimately we know that good triumphs over evil, mercy triumphs over judgement, and life wins out over death. We will persist. We will stay in this battle to give light to the unborn poor. We will remain faithful to the end.
Pray for the unborn poor tonight and tomorrow and in the days and nights following. Pray, talk to others, and attend the TCHD meetings until the full light of dawn shines for the most vulnerable among us ... the unborn poor.
Brent Bullock, Minister
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
City of Austin Termination Services
I hope that title stirs your imagination. There are all kinds of services provided by the City of Austin. Most of them are legitimate for a civil community. Yet, we’ve recently come to realize that some of the “services” provided by the City of Austin are more like a hit man contract from the City of Corruption, Chicago.
Termination services “required” by the City of Austin were picked up by the Travis County Healthcare District (TCHD) in 2005. We’re talking about pregnancy termination services. We’re talking about abortion; the termination of innocent human life. And we’re talking to the tune of $450,000 per year.
Actual expenses for “termination services” paid by TCHD from Oct 2008 - Sep 2009 were $282,313. While I am grateful it wasn’t $450,000, it does represent over 600 aborted human babies. Travis County had 3,748 abortions and 16,152 live births in 2006.
TCHD is providing free “termination services” to low income women that qualify for the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) or State of Texas Medicaid. Your Travis County property tax payments fund these abhorrent termination services. With the City of Austin contract expiring, we have a great opportunity to terminate taxpayer funded ”termination services”.
Express your viewpoint an the TCHD public hearing on Thursday, Dec 10th.
Related News Stories & Blogs:
Notice: the stories below contain various viewpoints
Property Taxes Funds Abortions
by Fox news Austin, Wednesday, 02 Dec 2009
For the past several years property taxes n Travis County have been funding abortions through the Travis County Health Care District. Some taxpayers, including the Catholic Diocese of Austin, want the practice to stop. Finish reading this story >>
$450,000 Taxpayer Dollars for Abortions & Planned Parenthood in Travis County?
by Free Market Foundation, Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Action Item! Update! A vote will come next Thursday, December 10! Call now to stop this! Email us if you can come testify against this proposal next week!
The Travis County Health District will meet next week, Thursday, December 10th to have a public hearing, discuss and vote on $450,000 of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. We also have reason to believe that Planned Parenthood will be seeking a portion of this money. Finish reading this story >>
Austin Texas' Travis County to Consider Spending $450K on Abortions at Meeting
by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, November 30, 2009
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- Travis County officials in Austin, Texas are set to discuss, at a December 10 meeting, whether or not they will spend $450,000 to directly pay for abortions. The county has paid for abortions in prior budgets and the Texas Alliance for Life pro-life organization hopes to stop officials this time around. Finish reading this story >>
The State of Abortion in Travis County
by Anna Russo, Daily Texan Columnist, Wednesday, November 18, 2009
In the shadow of the national buzz over women's reproductive choices, Austin has its own reproductive battle to fight. In the last month, the Travis County Healthcare District board meetings have been fraught with controversy over abortion. Finish reading this story >>
Health district considering renewal of contracts with abortion providers
At meeting, citizens urge district board not to continue using tax money to support clinics.
By Mary Ann Roser, AMERICAN-STATESMAN, Friday, October 23, 2009
The Travis County Healthcare District board is considering renewing two contracts with organizations that perform abortions, its first public tussle with the controversial issue. Finish reading this story >>
FACT SHEET on Travis County Health District (TCHD) Taxpayer Funded Abortion
In 2005 the Travis County Health District accepted assignment of a 2004 agreement between the City of Austin and Whole Woman’s Health of Austin for “termination services”.
The 2004 City of Austin Pregnancy Termination Contract:
- Provides elective abortions to healthy low-income women (MAP or Medicaid).
o States, “the City has a requirement for a licensed facility to provide pregnancy termination services to women enrolled in the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) or the State of Texas Medicaid program”. - Limits abortions to the first 13 weeks based on gestational age.
- Specifies exact charges for “termination services”.
- Specifies $450,000 payable to three abortion providers. The fifth year contract term, Dec. 2008 extension, was not to exceed $787,053.
TCHD has a new contract proposal with “women’s services” providers who perform abortions.
- THCD is considering a $450,000 contract proposal.
- Actual expenses for the expired contract from 10/1/08 – 9/30/09 were $283,313. (1)
- $450,000 of taxpayer money could fund over 1,000 abortions. (2)
Travis County reported 3,675 “induced terminations” (abortions) in 2007. (3)
- In 2006 Travis County had 3,748 abortions and 16,152 live births (TDHS).
- Only 216 of 77,881 abortions performed in Texas during 2007 were NOT associated with common elective abortion procedures. (4)
A recent Gallup Poll on abortion among U.S. Citizens finds:
- More citizens now describe themselves as “pro-life”. (5)
- Fifty-seven percent say abortion should only be legal in certain circumstances. (5)
Fifty-nine percent of Protestant Christians describe themselves as “pro-life”. (6)
End Notes:
1) THCD Board package for 11-12-09, http://www.traviscountyhd.org/2009_meeting_agendas_and_info_packets.html
2) Texas Alliance for Life – October 2009 (www.texasallianceforlife.org)
3) http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/CHS/VSTAT/vs07/t34.shtm
4) Intra-Uterine, Sharp Curettage (D&C), Hysterectomy and other/not stated
5) http://www.gallup.com/poll/122033/U.S.-Abortion-Attitudes-Closely-Divided.aspx
6) http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/More-Americans-Pro-Life-Than-Pro-Choice-First-Time.aspx
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