Gov. Jan Brewer makes no bones about her animosity toward Planned Parenthood.
“I do not support the goals of Planned Parenthood because I believe in life,” she said.
“They believe in choice,” the governor continued. “So let’s just cut right through the fat and tell it like it is.”
Brewer got to put her feeling about the organization into statute this session. She signed two measures that are designed to undercut Planned Parenthood funding.
And the governor is not only unapologetic. In an interview with Capitol Media Services on issues of morality and government, Brewer said that as long as the majority of lawmakers feel the way she does about Planned Parenthood — and the overall issue of abortion for that matter — she and they are entitled to impose their views on everyone else in Arizona.
One of the bills Brewer signed deals with the state’s Working Poor Tax Credit.
It provides a dollar-for-dollar state income tax credit for donations to charitable organizations that spend half their funds on the poor, chronically ill or physically disabled. The annual cap is $200 for individuals and $400 for couples.
Last year’s version, which Brewer signed, said credits are available only to a charity that provides a statement that it “does not provide, pay for, promote, provide coverage of or provide referrals for abortions.” But a federal judge blocked the move, ruling the law illegally discriminates among otherwise eligible groups solely because they “express a pro-choice viewpoint.”
So lawmakers were back again this year, removing the language about promoting or referring people for abortions. And Brewer signed that, too.
Brewer also inked her approval to legislation which says no federal family planning funds funneled through the state can go to any organization that performs abortions. Proponents admitted that, too, was aimed directly at Planned Parenthood.
Existing law prohibits state funding for abortion. But Brewer’s contention is that any money that goes to Planned Parenthood for anything else then frees up cash which can be used to underwrite the cost of abortions.
The governor said it is the right of elected officials to make these policy choices, particularly on how public funds and tax credits are spent.
But not everything Brewer signed this year relates to funding.
She also approved a measure which bans abortions at 20 weeks. That is based on arguments that 20 weeks is the point the nervous system of a fetus is sufficiently developed to experience pain.
And she was not shy about a question of whether that legislation amounts to imposing her will and the will of government on those who do not agree.
“I guess it’s imposing what I believe in,” she said.
That leaves the question of where is the line — and why the government has the right to declare that abortion at 20 weeks is illegal when there are those who do not necessarily believe that is when life begins.
“Well, I believe that life begins at conception,” Brewer responded.
She acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court has said that women have a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy.
“But we can still put responsible limitations on those kinds of issues,” the governor said. “And that’s what we’ve attempted to do.”
Nor was the governor concerned that what she considers “responsible limitations” might be considered by others an intrusion into their personal rights.
“It’s no different than when we do any other kinds of legislation or we set any other kinds of standards,” Brewer said. She said virtually all measures before lawmakers involve conflicting beliefs.
“This is the arena in which this is all debated,” the governor said. “And then we choose sides and there are winners and there are losers.”
And what of the rights of the minority?
“Well, the majority wins,” Brewer responded.
No matter what?
“As far as I know,” she said. “Every time I’ve ever seen the (voting) board down there (at the Legislature), the majority wins.”
And what of minority viewpoints who believe their rights have been taken?
“I guess then they take it to court,” Brewer said.
Brewer has signed other measures which also fall into the area of moral issues, including a new law that allows a company that designates itself as a “religiously affiliated employer to refuse to include contraceptives in insurance coverage provided to workers.
In prior years, Brewer has signed other abortion restrictions, including mandating a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can terminate a pregnancy and spelling out that specially trained nurse practitioners can no longer do early-term abortions.
And the governor has made no secret of the fact that, if it were left up to her, abortion would be totally illegal in Arizona except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.
“Life does begin at conception,” Brewer said.
“It’s a baby,” the governor said. “A woman knows from the first time she throws up she’s pregnant and having a baby.”
The governor said there is nothing wrong with government getting involved in issues of morality.
“We are a moral country,” she said. “We are a moral society.”
But whose morals?
“I guess the majority’s morals,” Brewer answered. And she said there is no reason that politicians should leave their beliefs at the door when they take office.
“I mean, that is part of who you are,” she said. “It’s part of how you were raised, part of how you engage with the world, every day making those decisions you believe that are right and wrong.”
Brewer said these beliefs are “a basic fundamental part of your being.”
“And I believe in life,” she said. “And I believe that life begins at conception.”
One footnote to the whole debate is that if Jan Brewer had hoped to keep Planned Parenthood from getting federal funds through the state, she may end up disappointed.
The organization does get family planning funds from the federal Medicaid program for the poor. And in most states, that program has the state directly pay health care providers for their services.
But the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, this state’s Medicaid program, involves the state contracting with health plans — essentially insurance companies — and they, in turn contract with individual providers for services. And that now includes Planned Parenthood.
AHCCCS spokeswoman Monica Coury said because her agency does not directly pay Planned Parenthood, she does not know if the funding ban applies.
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Engaged Voter posted at 3:31 pm on Fri, Jun 8, 2012.
Funny how those who claim to be legislating "morality" are always the most immoral frauds of all.
Actually, it isn't that funny...just sad and pathetic.
DrJCA1 posted at 1:39 pm on Wed, May 23, 2012.
I suggest we split the US into two countries, liberal and conservative. In 20 years, let's look at both and see who comes out better off. It would be very interesting.
samkat posted at 6:14 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
I find it interesting that our morality police claim their religious and personal rights are being eroded but they have no qualms about stepping all over the rights of everyone else in their question to turn Arizona into a church state.
Brewer and crew need to reassess their own morality before going after anyone else. She has hired two cronies in recent weeks which would have violated the state civil service laws except she had them struck down. Our guv and state legislators lack any morals when it comes to establishing a code of ethics.
As the old saying goes, we have the best government that special interest money can buy. Our politicians certainly do not want to disclose the amount of graft that exchanges hands.
Bingo6 posted at 11:21 am on Tue, May 22, 2012.
Let' s see the Taliban has religious police and Sharia law, while in Arizona we have Comrade Jan and her thugs from the Tea Party Politburo, forcing their moral beliefs on the rest of us. What's next public stoning and political indoctrination in the tent city Gulag!
quietgardens posted at 9:51 am on Tue, May 22, 2012.
Of course, government enforces morality. Serial killers think they are doing a service to the community. Murder is a crime. We can all agree to that.
Democracy IS about creating rules of the majority, NOT the minority.
And for those of you "pro-choicers" out there?? What kind of "choice" is it if you promote death of a living person/organism or fetus (whatever else you want to call it). Do you know what happens when you remove it from the womb? It dies. So call it waht you want, but the opposite of death is life. If you aren't sure, go watch the procedure at a vet clinic when they spay dogs or cats that are already pregnant and see literally what happens. You may change your mind.
VOTEOUTGOP posted at 6:15 pm on Mon, May 21, 2012.
Isn't it interesting that a country founded to allow freedom from religious persecution is now using religion to persecute freedoms?
Jan Brewer makes me embarrassed to say I live in Arizona. You can't say much for a state that would vote for this idiot.
kenj12 posted at 2:35 pm on Mon, May 21, 2012.
What stunning hypocrisy!
This person cuts $500 million a year from Arizona’s healthcare system, ending more than $1.5 billion in additional federal matching funds, because there’s “no money” while giving out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts to corporations and her rich patrons.
And she’s lecturing on morality?
Is it really possible to sink any lower?
What was that $2 billion going for –tummy tucks, nose jobs, face lifts? Of course not! It was going for healthcare that people needed and will no longer get.
And a good chunk was going for prenatal care that will no longer be available and children will pay the price with their health and their lives, along with hundreds of others.
The Jan Brewers of America just LOVE those unborn babies.
It’s the born ones they despise.
Mike McClellan posted at 9:15 am on Mon, May 21, 2012.
So we have a governor who believes that she can legislate morality. What's new? Aren't all laws governing social interaction of any sort "moral laws"?
When civil rights laws were passed in the early '60's, they were designed to legislate morality, as were the Civil War amendments.
Please. This is a tempest in a tea pot.
I don't agree with hardly anything Brewer does, but we elected her. Don't like the laws? Vote for someone else or challenge them in court.
But let's not create some polite fiction that what she's doing is somehow unprecedented.
DavidNichols posted at 7:50 am on Mon, May 21, 2012.
Wow Jan, the Mother of a knife point Rapist Son, that abused her Government Authority to defraud Social Security to get her Rapist Son $75,000.00 reward for his henous Crime while he served his sentence totally cared for by tax payers to the tune of $601.00/Day, has the nerve to say: "we are a Moral Society".
Un-believable?
Knife Point Rape, and Fraud are Moral?
Seek help Governor Brewer.
Slabside posted at 11:46 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Have any of you noticed that Dale Whiting and Cerulean are not posting? Dare I say it....?
aznative_k posted at 10:28 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Planned parenthood spends THREE percent of it's budget on abortions. THREE. The rest is spent in family planning, STD screening, cancer screening, etc. When we take away planned parenthood's funding for what it does 97% of the time, we most assuredly get more abortions, more cancer, more unwanted babies. What does this do for our state? It makes us pay MORE in the end. Way to go, Governor Jan-morality, and all of you who claim you are really pro-life. You have just raised the numbers of abortions, cancer, and unwanted children, and hence the costs to taxpayers because of your inability to do math and your blind-faith.
dondon6634 posted at 8:23 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Thank you, Jan Brewer, for making plain you believe in the tyranny of the majority. There are limits to what the majority can impose even in a democracy. That's why the U.S. Supreme Court based Roe v. Wade on the right to privacy. Some decisions are so private, so intimate that government should not stick its nose in them. I find it hard to believe a woman could be so callous and cavalier about the most private, intimate decision of them all--whether to carry a fetus to term.
Garfield posted at 6:29 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
You liberals are hilarious!!!! I love the "turn your backs on the 12,000 plus unwanted children in Arizona" comment" Why is it that liberals are always wanting to do whatever they want to do, then tell me that I have to take care of it and pay for it after the fact. Here's a novel idea from the past ...... Buy a condom yourself ..... or better yet, keep you legs closed if YOU can't afford to take care of a child that surely comes from your own personal behavior. Even a bird nows to build a nest before it lays an egg. As for politicians staying out of out lives ...... lets try you liberals staying out of my life and my wallet, to pay for all your so called social programs for unwed mothers and unwanted children born to you liberally educated people in our disgustingly liberal public schools over the past 40 years! You are the ones who have no qualms about trampling all over my religious and personal freedoms as long as you get YOUR intolerant way. Liberals these days are the most intolerant people around!! Just look at just about every comment made by a liberal in this forum, it always begins with name calling and statements of bigotry and intolerance that has nothing to do with the topic.
samkat posted at 4:13 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Rational: Its funny that the religious right wing flat earth people are so eager to prevent contraception, pregnancy terminations, etc., and yet they are the first to turn their backs on the 12,000 plus unwanted children in Arizona. Why is it that they are unwilling to open their homes and their hearts to these children? furthermore, they are the first to deny adequate CPS funding to ensure these children are taken care of.
They preach less government, less interference in people's lives and yet they have no qualms about trampling all over everyone's religious and personal freedoms as long they get their intolerant way.
abimopectore posted at 2:59 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
You have to admire her convictions and the fact that she's not afraid to speak her mind regardless of all the folks who will condemn her positions without any rational argument.
ArizonaGal posted at 1:45 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Thanks Jan
Arizona Willie posted at 1:44 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Remember in November
Vote Democratic to avoid Theocratic
sifree posted at 1:31 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
What gives her or any other lawmaker the moral authority? Wife-beaters, thieves, drunks, misogynists, liars, corruption mongers, bigots, pension stealers,takers of paoffs & payola, skimmers of funds, arrogant presumers, know-nothing promoters, back room dealers, takers of illegal payoffs, etc the makeup of AZ Leadership.
I can remember when Jan Brewer's DUI's were weekly news items including the time when she hit a bike rider; Scandals galore perpetrated by these so called Lawmaker moral icons. None of these lawmakers can hardly pass muster of lawmakers -- what set of "morals" do they presume to impose on the rest of us? The Tea-Partiers - who says they are moral? The Koch bros? Whatever group(s) the Gov & Legislators have sold out to?.
Statements like Brewers arrogant statements are indicative of the fact that the office of Governor and the Legislative branch have been infiltrated by outside interests -- Or they are purely ego-driven & delusionsal.
Of course, every would be dictator in the 20th century has made those same statements. Out of the chaos that ensued, they were driven out of office.
DrJCA1 posted at 1:07 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
I've been listening to this absurd abortion debate for about 30 years and nothing has changed. You have freaks on both sides of this (and every other) issue who will not cooperate or compromise with the "other side". Thus, like the morons in congress, nothing ever gets done and we spend millions more running this garbage through the courts, making ambulance-chasing lawyers even wealthier. Abortion is a very devisive issue and while I promote freedon of choice, there are times in my past that I've told the pregnant patient that I thought she was a selfish slob - like when they wanted an abortion because having a child would be "inconvienent". On the other side, to force a 13 year old rape victim to go through a full pregnancy and then give the baby away, like a birthday present, is also a miscarriage of justice and decency.
Just for the record to the holier-than-thou folks out there: having a living, breathing baby and then giving it away is NOT one bit less traumatic then an abortion, and often leaves much more guilt and remorse for a much longer time. I am speaking from 40 years in medicine taking care of a few thousand pregnancies, births, abortions, and counseling of patients and their families. So unless you have actual knowledge and experience with these people, just keep your holy-roller thoughts to yourself, uunless you are perfect and pure 100% of the time, or have already signed papers for the adoption of an unwanted baby.
Max in Scottsdale posted at 12:32 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
We need to vote every GOP incumbent out of office this November!
Our state Government has been a complete embarrassment to me and the country. They need to quit forcing their religion upon every and stay out of my bedroom!
hmfic68 posted at 12:22 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
And that . . . is the Tyranny of the Majority
IceCat, I'm with you . . . I think.
I don't want to pay for it. I don't think it needs to be banned. I want you to stay out of MY business!
IceCat posted at 11:35 am on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Freedom of choice, less government, stay out of my life, apparently isn't what the GOP is really about.
downtownresident posted at 9:27 am on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Of all the arrogant, yet totally ignorant things to say. Jan you deserve to be impeached.
The lack of intelligence of our leaders simply means that we are just smart enough to check the boxes we've been told to by the bishop.
Arizona Willie posted at 9:09 am on Sun, May 20, 2012.
This is nothing less than the right wingers ( especially the religious right ) declaring that they intend to have a theocracy and impose their morality ( religious beliefs ) on every one else whether they agree with them or not.
And who would scream the loudest if agnostics like myself became the majority ( or even just won election to offices where we could make the laws ) and we declared our secular humanism overruled their views.
Brewers particular Christian cult is probably not a majority in Arizona they just got enough of them elected to put them in power.
So how do you defend yourself against having people like Brewer force their religious beliefs on you?
Vote them out of office when you find them there and carefully vet candidates to see if they agree with her mindset that she is entitled to force her beliefs on others. Which pretty much rules out most $epublicans.
Rational Human posted at 8:13 am on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Abort every child you haphazardly produce if you like, but don't ask me to pay for your form of birth control. It's not my job.