The Virginia General Assembly is currently haggling over a
two-year state budget that could allot $6 million to 12 million to a pilot program
providing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) to women.
“We believe the LARC pilot program is wrongheaded, bad policy and
lamentable,” said Jeff Caruso, executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference,
the advocacy arm of Virginia bishops. Caruso was joined by other organizations,
including The Family Foundation and the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia,
to oppose the measure at a press conference in Richmond May 9.
“Today, we urge the General Assembly to remove the funding for
this regrettable new program, which preys on poor women and teenagers,” said
Caruso.
The LARC program had been a part of former governor Terry
McAuliffe’s proposed budget for years, but only recently gained traction in the
legislature, said Bill Re, associate director. Healthcare providers, including Planned
Parenthood and other abortion providers, will be reimbursed for implanting and removing
the devices. Money also will go toward advertising the availability of LARCs,
such as intrauterine device (IUDs.)
Though some taxpayer money already goes toward providing free or
low-cost contraception, this initiative would be a big expansion, said Re. “At
the very least, it should not be distributed through the abortion industry,” he
said.
“Last year, Planned Parenthood received $544 million from
taxpayers and made a profit of $98.5 million,” said Caruso. “Meanwhile, it
spends millions of dollars each election cycle to push its agenda on
policymakers and the public. The bloated abortion industry does not need any
more of Virginia taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.”
The VCC also is concerned teenagers will receive LARCs without their
parent’s knowledge, as minors legally may consent to contraceptive services in
Virginia. “Pushing LARCs onto teenage girls without their parents’ knowledge or
involvement is bad for both teens and families,” said Caruso.
“Women deserve better; taxpayers demand better; and Virginia is
better than this,” he said.
Find out more
To learn more and contact your elected official, go here.