Pro-abortion women have figured out they can donate to Planned Parenthood in the name of Vice President-elect Pence, and he will get a certificate mailed to him for each donation. Pence, who defunded Planned Parenthood in Indiana, is staunchly pro-life.
The ironic thing? These donations illustrate exactly how Planned Parenthood should be funded. Private donors who support the mission of the women's health organization (or abortion giant, depending on how you see it) can send their money to support the cause. Taxpayers, on the other hand, shouldn't have to contribute to an enterprise that many find morally unconscionable.
Americans will debate the importance of Planned Parenthood in the coming months as Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate, while President-elect Trump and Pence take over as heads of the executive branch.
On one hand, Planned Parenthood's opponents will point out that the organization champions abortion and leads the country in the number of abortions performed. It also advocates on LGBTQ issues and sex education, and many taxpayers don't want to be forced to fund an organization that takes progressive positions on hot-button cultural issues.
On the other hand, supporters will say the group provides other services. Planned Parenthood doles out contraception and counseling, and provides breast exams (but not mammograms) and some screening for sexually transmitted diseases.
Indeed, providing low-income women (and men) with healthcare services is a noble cause, but not every noble cause should be funded by the government. Many private donors have supported countless charitable clinics and pregnancy-resource centers for decades.
Planned Parenthood should be no different — it should be privately funded. On average, Planned Parenthood receives $500 million a year in government money. That's 43 percent of its total revenues. But as a darling of the Left (including wealthy Hollywood mega-stars like Amy Schumer and Katy Perry, who just gave $10,000), the organization should have no problem raising donations to replace taxpayer funding.
Let's hope Pence holds on to each of those certificates that he's received marking recent donations to Planned Parenthood. He can subtract, dollar-for-dollar, from public funding for the group. His office can send thank-you notes to all of the donors who helped to establish that Planned Parenthood can stand on its own two feet, not needing a dime more from taxpayers like you and me.