Will the Beautiful (Budget) Bill Stop any Abortions


There is crowing among anti abortion operatives that the bill will reduce money to Planned Parenthood. From what we know about the history of abortion, the number remains about the same regardless of whether abortions are legal or illegal or funded by government or not. Certainly, there are more abortions in states that provide some funding for abortions, total numbers across the country remain about the same regardless of the political cycle. 

I've become curious about the impact of personal or business donations to pay for the costs of abortions. I pay into three or four different funds. One such fund provides grants across the country to women who need abortions. They pay for some of the costs at clinics and travel, housing and child care. One, National Abortion Fund, coordinates donations and grants across the country. On its website are photocopies of its Federal Income Tax documents. 

So far as I can tell this organization gives away between $30 and $50 million a year. Planned Parenthood has its own funds to help low income women pay for abortions. Then, local clinic both do fund raising for subsidies and give lower prices to some women who are under financial distress. Just guessing, I put the money donated for abortions at $100 million per year. Making another guess, this might pay for 10-14% of all abortion costs in the U.S.

This 10-15% will be paid to the 60% of women who seek abortion who are in poverty. The other 40% presumably can afford the cost. Even if $100 million is donated by abortion rights people like myself, it is theoretically possible an even larger amount might be donated in the future. It seems to me donated funds plays a significant role in the number of abortions performed annually.  

Several academic economists are studying abortion and are slowly bringing information to the public. These research projects will be influential when a new political cycle comes along supporting abortion rights.

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