Fearing a tyrannical government, our Founding Fathers had the wisdom to design a polity with checks and balances every which way. One of those checks is federalism, wherein the national government in Washington, D.C., must share power with geographical units called states, who have their own political authority given to them by The People. (In contrast, in unitary or centralized polities like France, Japan, and China, the constituent territorial units — called regions, prefectures and provinces, respectively — exercise only whatever powers delegated to them by the central government.)
America’s federalism is codified in the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution, which states:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
After the Center for Medical Progress exposed Planned Parenthood’s sale-for-profit of the body organs, parts, and tissue of aborted babies, Demonrats and 3 Republicans ensured the defeat of a Senate bill to defund the abortion mill. But America’s state governments are stepping up to the plate. Thus far, three states have revoked taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood’s abortion business — Alabama, Louisiana, and New Hampshire.
The latest state to exercise its 10th Amendment powers is Indiana.
Steven Ertelt reports for Life News that on Aug. 10, 2015, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law a new measure mandating that aborted babies must be buried or cremated.
SEA 329, the aborted fetal remains bill, establishes rules as to how abortion facilities must dispose of aborted babies and allows the pregnant woman to choose a different method at her own expense (i.e. burial). Testimony had revealed that the Indianapolis Planned Parenthood facility was disposing of aborted babies down a drain into the sewer system.
State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne), the author of SEA 329, said:
“This law creates rules for how to appropriately dispose of aborted fetal remains. Establishing standards brings respect to the woman, abortion staff and the aborted child. These standards require the facility to dispose of the baby’s remains properly, unless the woman chooses to bury her baby. Hoosiers want their government to ensure the bodies of aborted babies are treated with dignity and this law accomplishes that.”
Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life, said, “We’re thankful for Gov. Pence’s commitment to the pro-life cause and for the legislators who boldy passed these bills. The aborted remains bill is especially timely, as Americans pause to consider what becomes of the tiny lives ended in abortion procedures. We believe the aborted remains bill provides dignity to the babies, their mothers and the abortion facility staff.”
Gov. Pence also took other actions related to Planned Parenthood:
- He directed the Indiana State Department of Health and the Office of the Indiana Attorney General to investigate Planned Parenthood facilities in Indiana to ensure compliance with SEA 329.
- He wrote to the Indiana Congressional Delegation regarding the series of undercover videos exposing Planned Parenthood’s trafficking of aborted fetal tissue, with copies (cc) to the U.S. Attorneys in the Northern and Southern Districts and county prosecutors in counties in which Planned Parenthood performs abortions (Marion, Monroe, Tippecanoe, and Lake).
Gov. Pence said in a statement:
Every Hoosier should be deeply troubled by allegations that Planned Parenthood affiliates are engaged in the trafficking of human remains. If true, this is not only illegal, it is morally reprehensible. Under federal and state law, the buying or selling of human body parts is a felony and, as Governor, I have an obligation to make sure this is not happening in Indiana.
For this reason, I have directed the Indiana State Department of Health to conduct an immediate investigation with the cooperation of the Office of the Attorney General of Indiana to determine whether Planned Parenthood affiliates in Indiana have engaged in any illegal activities with respect to the trafficking in or disposition of fetal tissue. Whatever one’s view on the issue of abortion, Hoosiers can be assured that we will make certain that this appalling practice is not taking place in Indiana.
So far, 12 states have launched investigations into Planned Parenthood’s abortion and organ harvesting business: South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood has been selling body parts from aborted babies for as much as 15 years.
Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are adamant on opposing any defunding of Planned Parenthood. Last year, taxpayers were forced, against our conscience, to pay some $500 million to “subsidize” the for-profit nationwide organization, with abortion accounting for 94% of its business.
See also:
- California company harvests organs of aborted babies to grow in rats for lucrative organ transplants
- More Planned Parenthood horrors on sale of aborted babies. Warning: graphic
- Planned Parenthood’s Clergy Advisory Board says the abortion mill ‘is doing God’s work‘
~Éowyn
