Posted on 03/23/2007 8:26:10 AM PDT by Princip. Conservative
AUSTIN — A proposal by state Sen. Dan Patrick would pay pregnant women $500 for choosing adoption over abortion.
The anti-abortion Houston Republican said Senate Bill 1567 would provide an incentive to forgo abortion, but critics questioned whether such payments would be viewed as baby selling or coercion.
"We want that lady to have an incentive that makes her stop and think about having an abortion and that gives her a reason to put her baby up for adoption," Patrick said. "My goal is to save as many babies as we possibly can."
Critics of the bill, which has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said the idea of paying women to choose adoption oversimplifies the decision they face.
"This is insulting to women and also insulting to all the great charitable organizations out there that do wonderful work finding adoptive parents and taking care of the birth mother," said Fran Hagerty of the Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas.
Joe Pojman of the anti-abortion group Texas Alliance for Life also expressed caution.
"We just need to make sure there isn't even the perception of baby buying going on," Pojman said.
It's against Texas law to offer to give a thing of value to another for acquiring a child for purposes of adoption.
Patrick disputed any portrayal of the bill as baby selling.
"We're just giving someone an incentive to put your baby up for adoption," he said. "Then the baby goes through the normal adoptive process."
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
Well hells bells...
I think I'm going to go have some fun, and make $500 in the process...
Not that I am at all in favor of abortion...Nor would I believ this will do anything but create an interesting baby boom as a result...
Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way, but this is the opposite of the political pendulum swing that cannot solve the problem...
Thats why I believe you cannot legislate social behaviour from any point of view...
I certainly don;t want my tax dollars to support abortions, nor do I want the money to go to pay to keep the pregnancies to term...
Then what do we got??? hmmmmm???
Dan is really starting to make a few more waves than he should be...But thats just my knee-jerk reaction to this...
"My guess is you'll end up with a bunch of babies nobody wants to adopt."
Your guess is wrong. Try again.
Like I said above, there's a reason couples spend tens of thousands of dollars, and wait years, to get babies from Europe when there are so many available here.
That could just mean $500 for every baby born, since anyone who wants the no strings attached money can just say they want $500 for having a baby, even if they've been trying to have one. It's not a good solution because it's not enough for someone who really is poor and doesn't want a baby, nor a well to do woman who doesn't want to raise one.
There aren't available newborns here. People have to go on long waiting lists. Somteims it's easier to adopt from other countries than wait to adopt here. The babies from Europe are often caucasian so they look more like American children. I want to adopt some day when I get married, and I've looked at what's available on our state photo-listing and the Northwest Exchange out of curiousity, and the only children that are available are usually older children. The babies are most of the time adopted or being considered by a family. The children here that need homes are older for the most part. Many people want babies, and perhaps there should be some incentives to encourage people to adopt the older kids.
You going to use your own personal money, Danny Boy?
Because I sure as hell don't want you using my tax money!
You going to use your own personal money, Danny Boy?
Because I sure as hell don't want you using my tax money!
Ten you better get your name on the waiting list now, especially if you want an infant, and one that looks anything at all like you.
Adoption agencies are requiring you to have be under 35 and married for at least 15 years, and rather wealthy, if you want a white infant.
Healthy white babies are in demand. What about those extra black babies produced by the cash incentive? Not to mention a drug addict would gladly turn over (and make more of) a crack or meth baby for cash. Meanwhile, the middle class college student who is having an abortion so as to not interrupt her college career or embarass her parents is less likely to bite.
Man if that's not a racist comment, I don't know what is. There are so many couples out there that can't have babies, they are adopting in foreign countries of all colors.
Amen...I can't believe this is even being suggested - sounds like a cheaper version of welfare where you make more money with each child you have.
What ever happened to Republican politicians supporting the idea of LESS government instead of promoting more, expensive programs?
" I want to adopt some day when I get married, and..."
Adoption agencies are requiring you to have be under 35 and married for at least 15 years, and rather wealthy....
Women who would be swayed one way or the other for $500 probably are not the healthiest breeding stock, to say the least.
How about paying them $15,000 to agree to be sterilized instead? It's cheaper than prison.
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