(OSV News) ─ After Colorado voters repealed a state constitutional amendment barring state taxpayer funds for abortion, some lawmakers are advancing legislation to permit the use of those funds for abortion.
But while some proponents of that legislation have cast that as a cost-saving measure, a Catholic pro-life activist said that funding should support low-income families.
In November, Colorado voters approved a state constitutional amendment enshrining protections for abortion, including the repeal of a previous ban on state and local funding for abortion. In response, some state lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 183 to make "conforming changes to state law." The legislation would expand the definition of "family-planning-related services" to "include abortion care."
In comments advocating for the bill at a March 25 committee hearing, Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, one of its co-sponsors, argued that "a birth is more expensive than an abortion." McCluskie pointed to a legislative fiscal analysis arguing the resulting increase to the number of "averted births" could save the state approximately half a million dollars annually.
"In the first full implementation year (FY 2026-27), costs for abortion services are estimated to be $5.9 million, while cost savings for averted births are estimated to be $6.4 million," the memo said.
The memo also argued that "Medicaid-covered births typically involve additional social safety net impacts for the child, whereas abortion care services represent a one-time expenditure." The fiscal analysis did not include those "impacts."
Asked about that argument, Kristen Day, a Catholic and executive director of Democrats for Life of America and co-author of a 2023 white paper called, "Make Birth Free: A Vision for Congress to Empower American Mothers, Families and Communities," which outlines a proposal to eliminate out-of-pocket medical expenses for giving birth, told OSV News, "Once again, Colorado Democrats are straying from true Democratic values."
"Real choice means having the ability to choose between genuine options -- not being pushed toward one outcome because of financial hardship," Day said. "By prioritizing taxpayer funding for abortion over support for families, Colorado lawmakers are signaling that low-income families don’t deserve the same opportunities as those with more resources."
Day argued that instead of "promoting abortion as a cost-saving measure, legislators should address the root issue: the high cost of childbirth."
"Our 'Make Birth Free' proposal offers a compassionate, practical solution—ensuring that every family, regardless of income, can experience the joy of parenthood," she said.
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Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.
