Texas lawmaker offers choice: Abortion or $500

[Dos Equis]

Talk about controversial legislation . . . .

Texas lawmaker offers choice: Abortion or $500
POSTED: 8:15 p.m. EDT, March 23, 2007
Story Highlights• Proposed law would pay $500 to women who choose adoption
• Critics say plan would violate laws against buying babies
• Lawmaker also is a conservative radio talk show host

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (Reuters) -- A Texas legislator has proposed that pregnant women considering abortion be offered $500 not to end their pregnancies.

Republican State Sen. Dan Patrick, who also is a conservative radio talk show host, said Friday the money might persuade the women to go ahead and have babies, then give them up for adoption.

He said during a legislative conference in New Braunfels, 45 miles south of Austin, there were 75,000 abortions in Texas last year.

"If this incentive would give pause and change the mind of 5 percent of those women, that's 3,000 lives. That's almost as many people as we've lost in Iraq," Patrick said.

Patrick has filed legislation to make the payment state law, but the legislature has not voted on it.

His proposal calls for giving any woman going to an abortion clinic the $500 option, to be paid no more than 30 days after the baby is born and given up for adoption.

Critics say the proposal would violate Texas and federal laws against buying babies, which Patrick rejected as "the typical ridiculous criticism."

Heather Paffe, political director of Planned Parenthood of Texas, said Patrick's proposal "is very cynical and insulting to women and their families."

"It's insulting to think women would make that kind of decision so easily," she said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/23/texas.abortion.reut/index.html

[G o a t b o y]

You know, if private parties want to fund this type of nonsense I would have no objection, but no way do I want my tax dollars being used for it. 

[OzmO]

yes that $500 dollars will go a long way in helping them.  The crack whores will undoubtedly keep using crack and buy some more with the $500 or give it to someone who will or who they owe for crack.

[youandme]

Yeah $500 That will buy 2 weeks worth of diapers and formula.

[OzmO]

Yeah $500 That will buy 2 weeks worth of diapers and formula.

And baby wipes 

[Dos Equis]

yes that $500 dollars will go a long way in helping them.  The crack whores will undoubtedly keep using crack and buy some more with the $500 or give it to someone who will or who they owe for crack.

You think this is aimed at "crack whores"?

[OzmO]

You think this is aimed at "crack whores"?

Nope, but crack whores are included in this $500 bonus.   We'll get more Welfare babies, more babies in dumpsters and more carck revenue for the dealers!


GReat idea!

   I'm working today this sucks.   But my bathroom isn't being used   

[Dos Equis]

Nope, but crack whores are included in this $500 bonus.   We'll get more Welfare babies, more babies in dumpsters and more carck revenue for the dealers!


GReat idea!

   I'm working today this sucks.   But my bathroom isn't being used   

I can't imagine women going through nine months of pregnancy for $500. 

Sucks for you.     I always say I love my job . . . but not on a Sunday afternoon.  But I'll be working tomorrow.  I was smart enough to promise someone I would e-mail a document to them on Sunday and discuss it with them over the weekend.  I haven't even started.  Brilliant.   

And I am about to declare Marshall Law with these bathrooms . . . . .     

[Camel Jockey]

Fucking bullshit! Why are those hicks down there so crazy about the abotion issue? 

[Hugo Chavez]

You think this is aimed at "crack whores"?

lol... who else is going to be tempted by 500.00

[Dos Equis]

lol... who else is going to be tempted by 500.00

I don't know.  The story doesn't mention "crack whores," and I don't know what percentage of women in Texas who have abortions are "crack whores."  Do you? 

[youandme]

Fucking bullshit! Why are those hicks down there so crazy about the abotion issue? 

I take it you have never been to the south and put up with crazy neocons?

[youandme]

I don't know.  The story doesn't mention "crack whores," and I don't know what percentage of women in Texas who have abortions are "crack whores."  Do you? 

You could find out what percentage are drug abusers though, I recall a study done by a outpatient birth program that stated out of 130 drug abusing pregnant mothers there was a extrapolating estimate of 1.5 abortions per women.

[Dos Equis]

You could find out what percentage are drug abusers though, I recall a study done by a outpatient birth program that stated out of 130 drug abusing pregnant mothers there was a extrapolating estimate of 1.5 abortions per women.

Wow.  You mean 1.5 for each woman?  Where was this? 

[youandme]

I'll dig it up, I forgot her name and the center. Abortion and drug abuse show a large correlation. But what's really interesting is how the drug abuse and other pyschological problems are magnified after abortion, so after one abortion the chances of a second abortion are increased. $500 would only add fuel to the fire, and it is targeted towards drug, alcoholic, and abused women.

[Deedee]

lol... who else is going to be tempted by 500.00

No one. 

And the woman in the article was right.  It is insulting to women.  Besides, if a middle-class, average, normal woman could be swayed to go through nine months of pregnancy and the pain of childbirth for money, why wouldn't she agree to become a surrogate mother instead? She'd easily make $50,000.00.