ADF offers to defend Orange County policy preventing public funds from subsidizing abortionists
Planned Parenthood threatens lawsuit over policy to keep county’s share of tobacco settlement funds from being used to abort children
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys have offered to defend the Orange County Board of Supervisors pro bono in the event it faces any threats of legal action by Planned Parenthood or similar pro-abortion groups over a new policy the board passed Tuesday restricting certain county funds from being used for abortions.
“Local governments are not required to provide bailout money to the abortion industry,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven H. Aden. “Taxpayers should not be required to foot the bill for the activities of groups which perform or promote abortions. The Orange County policy is perfectly consistent with similar federal restrictions and does not violate any state or federal laws.”
In a
letter sent Monday, ADF attorneys reassured board members “that case law provides the Board with a clearly constitutional path to restrict the use of Measure H Tobacco Settlement Revenue funds to preclude any connection to the provision or promotion of abortion.”
ADF-allied attorney Craig Alexander spoke before the board Tuesday at a public meeting and reiterated the offer of ADF to defend the policy in court, if necessary. The board later approved the policy despite threats from Planned Parenthood in the media that it would consider legal action if the county denies its funding requests.
The U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit have both upheld strong restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortions and abortion-related activities.
- ADF letter to the Orange County Board of Supervisors
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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