Pawlenty signs Positive Alternatives Act

05/24/2005

Jean Hopfensperger, Star Tribune
May 24, 2005

The Positive Alternatives Act, which for the first time would give state funding to crisis pregnancy centers that oppose abortion, was signed into law today by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The bill creates a $2.5 million fund that can be tapped by the network of more than 100 crisis pregnancy centers and maternity homes across the state that discourage women from having abortions. It was the top legislative priority of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL).

“Any time we can work together to promote positive alternatives to abortion, that’s a good thing,” Pawlenty said at the bill signing.

“My hat is off to MCCL and the others who believed this was a good way to help women.”

The idea generated broad support in both the House and Senate. But the Senate version contained stronger privacy provisions for women seeking services at the centers. It also required that information given to the women be medically accurate, and that some of the state’s largest adoptions agencies --such as Lutheran Social Services—be given access to the funding even though they don’t take a stand on abortion.

Those provisions were part of the final bill.

Abortion opponents said the law will help pregnant women “choose life,” by offering them help to keep their babies. That help could range from medical information, to parenting classes, to adoption services and personal support.

“Minnesota now will be a place where women with an unexpected pregnancy won’t feel that abortion is their only option,” said Scott Fischbach, MCCL executive director.

But abortion rights groups called the law a “handout to the MCCL.” If the governor was sincere about preventing abortion, he’d offer more funding for family planning grants without political agendas, said Tim Stanley, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota.

“We’re going to see how this law is implemented,” said Stanley. “We’ll be watching these changes closely.”