Today is the 38th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment. Despite being
a main target for many years of abortion advocates, it's been
re-approved by Congress every year. It prevents federal tax
dollars from directly paying for most abortions. Preventing
federal tax dollars from paying for abortion save lives, millions
of lives.
A similar law in Michigan saved approximately 10,000 lives the
first year it was in effect. Case in point: In 1988, Michigan tax
dollars were used to pay for abortions until December 11, 1988.
There were 46,747 reported abortions in Michigan in 1988.
Michigan had a reported abortion ratio (the number of abortions
for every 1,000 live births) of 334.8 and a reported abortion rate
(the number of abortions occurring in Michigan per 1,000 Michigan
women aged 15-44) of 21.0.
In 1989, these numbers changed dramatically as our Michigan tax
dollars were no longer paying for abortions. Reported abortions
dropped by more than 10,000 to 36,557. The abortion ratio dropped
to 246.7 and the abortion rate dropped to 16.5. In 1989, the
number of live births also rose by 8,529 compared to 1988.
If ending tax funded abortions in Michigan saved 10,000 lives in
one year, imagine how many lives 38 years of the Hyde Amendment
(which effects the whole nation) has saved.
Today is a day to celebrate the millions of lives saved by the
Hyde Amendment and continue in our efforts to uphold the sanctity
of human life.
