UPDATE: LD 335 Heads to Work Session
Dear Friends,
Ten days ago, the Legislature held a public hearing on LD 335, a bill that would send millions of taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning.
If you weren’t able to watch the hearing, we walk through several key moments in this podcast.
The same arguments we often hear were repeated during the hearing. Representatives from abortion providers described financial pressures and urged lawmakers to create a permanent state funding stream. But when legislators pressed for specifics, the answers raised more questions.
One notable exchange came when Rep. Lucian Daigle asked what percentage of their services were actually underfunded. The respondent never clearly answered the question. What did become clear was that this bill is not simply a response to recent federal changes, as some had suggested. Instead, it appears designed to (1) make up for funding they believe was insufficient in past years and (2) ensure Maine taxpayers permanently guarantee a high level of funding going forward.
LD 335 is not simply filling an immediate funding gap. It creates a permanent taxpayer-funded backstop for abortion providers.
The bill’s work session is scheduled for tomorrow, March 10 at 1pm in the Health and Human Services Committee (Cross Office Building Room 209). During the work session, the committee members will discuss the bill and often take their first vote.
The committee will continue accepting written comments until the work session begins, which means today and tomorrow morning are still opportunities to weigh in.
I would encourage you to urge the Committee to vote “No” on LD 335.
You can submit written testimony by clicking HERE and following the instructions.
Or email committee members directly. Their email addresses are listed along the left side of this webpage — just scroll down.
Noted below are some key reasons the League stands opposed to this legislation.
Taking the life of a preborn child is wrong. We oppose any policy that funds or supports the taking of innocent human life.
The Federal change had a clear purpose. One of its primary outcomes was ending Medicaid funding for organizations that exist predominantly to perform abortions. Taxpayers should not be compelled to subsidize organizations whose core business is ending pre-born life.
If we are talking about bailouts, let’s start with life-giving care. Across Maine, maternity wards and birthing centers have closed because hospitals say they lack sufficient funding. If taxpayer dollars are going anywhere, they should go toward reopening and strengthening those services — the ones that protect mothers and babies.
The Legislature already acted last session. Lawmakers authorized millions in direct state funding for abortion providers. Abortion groups asked for taxpayer dollars — and received them. There is no justification for coming back for more.
The numbers don’t add up. News reports estimate Planned Parenthood and similar organizations could lose roughly $800,000 to $2 million in Medicaid reimbursements under the federal change. That figure is significantly lower than what they are now requesting from the state, raising serious questions about the scale and purpose of this funding proposal.
This is about priorities. If Maine truly has money to spare, it should be invested in strengthening families — reopening maternity wards, supporting birthing centers, and expanding adoption and foster care — not underwriting an industry that measures success by the number of abortions performed.
There will likely be additional opportunities to engage as the bill moves through the House, Senate, and eventually the Appropriations Committee.
