Delegate Dave LaRock (R-Loudoun) is suggesting that Governor Glenn Youngkin could condition funding for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the University of Virginia (UVA) upon whether their medical centers stop providing abortions, but Youngkin said that he can’t do that.
At a recent rally at the Virginia Capitol, LaRock said, “Here’s what I’m asking him to do: direct UVA and VCU medical centers to immediately cease these abortion proceedings. He needs to direct that state grants and other funds will not be distributed to entities who in any way promote, facilitate, or engage in taking the life of preborn babies. A number of measures have passed through the legislature to this effect, very often to be vetoed by a hostile governor.”
“Lastly, he should direct Virginia government agencies that they not do business with any organization or entity which in any way actively promotes, facilitates, or engages in taking the lives of preborn babies,” LaRock said.
At an event Wednesday, The Star asked Youngkin if he could condition funding for state hospitals on whether or not they ended abortions, based on LaRock’s proposals at the rally.
Youngkin answered, “Well, so first of all, Delegate LaRock is incorrect. The hospitals have their own governing structure and so it’s just not correct. And I believe we’re at this moment where as a pro-life governor, and I’m very clear, I’m a pro-life governor, I do believe in exceptions in the case of rape and incest and when the mother’s life is at risk. Now, since the Supreme Court’s final decision, and appropriately, these decisions are moving back to states where elected officials are going to make them.”
Youngkin reiterated his desire for a 15-week pain-threshold abortion ban.
“I believe it will take time, and this isn’t something that we should rush. And so I’ve asked them to have a bill that hopefully I can sign in January. And I’m looking forward to see their progress. This is a moment for us to come together around a solution in a state that literally just 18 months ago was debating whether abortion should be allowed all the way up through and including birth. And I think this is a moment where Virginians believe one common thing: we should have fewer abortions as opposed to more, and I’m looking forward to letting them do the work,” he said.
LaRock reacted to Youngkin’s comments in a statement to The Star on Friday, noting that he’s pleased that Youngkin is a pro-life governor. He acknowledged the improbability of getting pro-life legislation through the General Assembly before 2024, but said Youngkin can still take action now.
“Governor Youngkin has appointed four members of each of those universities’ Boards of Visitors. He could reach out to them and urge them to work with their colleagues to stop providing abortions at their affiliate healthcare facilities. The Commonwealth’s new budget includes billions of dollars at UVA and VCU, including $414M to UVA and $624 to VCU out of the General Fund. If they’re unwilling to act now, the Governor can send a message now to those university hospitals that this isn’t acceptable and will be considered in his future budget decisions,” he said in the emailed statement.
LaRock also proposed that Youngkin could lead a coalition of pro-life governors saying they wouldn’t send tax funds to businesses that support abortions or “abortion tourism and trafficking.”
“We need to ensure that any Virginia-taxpayer-funded health grants are prioritized to go to entities that provide comprehensive care to all Virginians,” LaRock said. “Current annual state contracts send hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to abortion providers in the commonwealth. Abortion is not health care, and taxpayers and state agencies shouldn’t be forced to fund abortion providers.”
He said, “I pledge to not support any future budgets that send Virginia taxpayer dollars to entities that provide abortions, and I challenge the governor and every Virginia legislator who claims to be pro-life to do the same.”
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
