“Battle for Control: Four Groups Vying for $2 Million in Abortion Funding”

Four Organizations Vie for Control of $2 Million Abortion Alternatives Fund in Kansas

Introduction

In Kansas, four different organizations are in the running to secure their portions of a $2 million fund designated to provide support to pregnant women and girls who are contemplating abortion. The Kansas Treasurer’s Office has laid out four options for the management of the Alternatives to Abortion Program, which aims to allocate taxpayer money to anti-abortion counseling centers, commonly known as pregnancy resource centers or crisis pregnancy centers. While proponents argue that these organizations offer assistance to pregnant individuals, such as providing diapers and formula, opponents claim that they often spread misinformation and apply pressure on vulnerable individuals to avoid undergoing an abortion.

Bidders for the Alternatives to Abortion Program

The Kansas Department of Administration has released the names of the bidders who are vying to run the $2 million program. The competing organizations are as follows:

– Kansas Pregnancy Care Network, located in Mission.
– Human Coalition, based in Plano, Texas.
– Real Alternatives, situated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
– Life Alliance Kansas, located in Lawrence.

Specific details regarding the bids will only be made public after a contract has been awarded. As of now, there is no set timeline for finalizing the contract with the winning bidder, although the process may take several weeks or even months. The State Treasurer’s Office has not responded to requests for comment regarding this matter. State Treasurer Steven Johnson, a Republican, has previously expressed confidence in his staff’s ability to manage the selection of an organization to oversee the program.

Experience and Selection Criteria

When deciding on a contractor for the Alternatives to Abortion Program, the Kansas Treasurer will consider numerous factors, including previous experience in providing similar services. The request for proposals stipulates specific minimum qualifications and preferences for bidders. The contractor must be an established nonprofit organization authorized to operate in Kansas. Additionally, bidders with a minimum of five years of continuous active participation in the relevant industry are given preference.

This provision may work in favor of the two out-of-state bidders, as they already have experience running similar programs. Real Alternatives, for instance, is the first operator of a state-funded alternatives-to-abortion program and has established programs in multiple states. The organization claims that, based on their data, 85% of clients who were pressured to have an abortion ultimately chose to continue their pregnancies after receiving support from their program counselors.

On the other hand, the level of experience of the two Kansas-based organizations, Life Alliance Kansas and Kansas Pregnancy Care Network, is unclear. These organizations do not appear to have an internet presence, and there is no information available about them in the databases maintained by the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, or the Internal Revenue Service.

The Controversy Surrounding the Alternatives to Abortion Program

The Alternatives to Abortion Program was presented to the public by Kansans for Life at its annual March and Rally for Life event, following the rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have granted the GOP-controlled Legislature more power to regulate or ban abortion. While other states in the region are enacting stricter restrictions and bans on abortion, Kansas has become an outlier, seeing a spike in abortions due to an influx of patients from neighboring states, such as Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri.

One of the main intentions behind the Alternatives to Abortion Program is to advertise services to individuals who may be considering abortion, potentially through the use of highway billboards targeted towards patients driving to clinics in Wichita and the Kansas City area.

Democratic Governor Laura Kelly expressed her opposition to the program, stating that it creates a sole-source contract for an unknown entity to provide taxpayer funding to largely unregulated pregnancy resource centers. She argued that this approach lacks evidence-based reasoning and fails to effectively prevent unplanned pregnancies. It should be noted that the budget for the program currently only covers one year of funding, indicating the possibility of a future veto showdown next session if renewed funding is not secured.

The Importance of Proper Oversight

One of the main concerns surrounding the Alternatives to Abortion Program is the need for proper oversight to ensure that taxpayer resources are used appropriately. In Pennsylvania, Real Alternatives faced criticism and terminated contracts due to allegations of using tax dollars to fund activities in other states. Similarly, in Oklahoma, an audit revealed that the Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network, a contractor for a similar program, was “seriously underperforming,” leading to legislative efforts to bypass the contractor.

To address these concerns, the Kansas Treasurer’s Office plans to oversee the selected contractor by implementing quarterly reports and tying installment payments to these progress reports. However, it is important to note that an annual report mandated by the legislature will not be available until at least a month after the end of the legislative session.

Editorial: Balancing Compassion and Responsibility

The allocation of public funds to support anti-abortion counseling centers raises important ethical and philosophical questions. Advocates for programs like the Alternatives to Abortion Program argue that they provide compassionate assistance to pregnant individuals, offering them much-needed support and resources during challenging times. They emphasize the importance of providing alternatives to abortion and enabling women to make informed choices about their pregnancies.

However, critics maintain that such programs often disseminate inaccurate medical information and apply pressure on vulnerable individuals, potentially jeopardizing their reproductive rights. They argue that public funds should not be used to subsidize organizations that may impede access to safe and legal medical procedures.

It is crucial for policymakers to strike a balance between supporting pregnant individuals and respecting their autonomy. This can be achieved by ensuring rigorous oversight and accountability for any organization that receives public funding. Regulations should be implemented to ensure that accurate medical information is provided, and women’s reproductive rights are respected. Additionally, transparency in budget appropriation and regular auditing are essential to prevent the misuse of public funds.

Advice to Kansas Legislators

The decision regarding which organization will be selected to manage the Alternatives to Abortion Program will have far-reaching consequences for the people of Kansas. To ensure a fair and unbiased selection process, legislators should prioritize the following considerations:

1. Thorough Evaluation: Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of each bidding organization, taking into account their track record, financial stability, transparency, and adherence to ethical standards. This evaluation should include a review of their experience in running similar programs and their effectiveness in providing unbiased and accurate information to pregnant individuals.

2. Public Input: Seek input from a wide range of stakeholders, including women’s reproductive health organizations, medical professionals, and community members who have direct experience with these services.

3. Independent Oversight: Establish an independent body or committee responsible for overseeing the program’s implementation and monitoring the performance and ethics of the selected contractor.

4. Continuous Evaluation: Implement a system for ongoing evaluation of the program’s impact, including tracking outcomes related to women’s health, the effectiveness of counseling services, and the satisfaction of program participants.

By incorporating these considerations into the decision-making process, Kansas legislators can ensure that the Alternatives to Abortion Program respects the values of compassion, transparency, and autonomy while providing support to pregnant individuals in a responsible manner.