NYSCC blasts state’s ‘slush fund for abortionists’

Since taking office, Gov. Hochul has allocated $35 million to abortion providers

A file photo shows the front of the New York state Capitol in Albany. (OSV file photo/Mike Crupi, Catholic Courier) (Courtesy photo of Mike Crupi)

While praising Gov. Kathy Hochul for increasing the child tax credit in New York state in her proposed 2025-26 state budget and for becoming the first state to offer paid leave to expectant mothers for prenatal appointments, the New York State Catholic Conference also blasted her plan to set aside millions of dollars for “a slush fund for abortionists in the state.”

“While we were thrilled to see the governor prioritize an expansion of the Empire State Child Tax Credit in her executive budget, a look at her entire proposal reveals a familiar disappointment,” said Kristen Curran, director of government relations for the New York State Catholic Conference. “Despite acknowledging New Yorkers’ concerns about affordability, Governor Hochul will once again seek to funnel millions of dollars to the abortion industry while families struggle to put food on the table. 

“The very first health care initiative in her budget outline is to ‘sustain the reproductive freedom and equity grant fund,’ which is little more than a slush fund for abortionists in the state. Since she assumed office, the governor has unilaterally allocated $35 million to abortion providers, which primarily has benefited Planned Parenthood. Incredibly, that organization has been unable to sustain operations and has closed facilities, despite being handed enormous sums of money by the State of New York.” 

Hochul announced her state budget during her annual State of the State address at the State Capital on Jan. 14. The NYSCC lauded her proposal that would give eligible families an annual tax credit of up to $1,000 per child under age 4 and up to $500 per child from 4 through 16. The existing credit provides up to $330 per child. Hochul also received praise for making New York the first state to offer paid leave to expectant mothers for prenatal medical appointments. Under the law, privately employed New Yorkers as of Jan. 1 are able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal medical appointments.

But the continued expansion of her abortion agenda, while not unexpected, is troubling.

“That Governor Hochul would continue to pour resources into an entity that cannot manage funds while everyday New Yorkers struggle, is deeply disappointing. Women and families need compassionate solutions to lift the vulnerable out of poverty, truly address women’s health, support families, and provide babies and children with the resources they need to thrive,” Curran said. “Governor Hochul notably has promoted policies that have made substantial positive progress in all of these areas, which we applaud. New Yorkers would be well served if she maintained that focus and didn’t redirect finite state resources to propping up failing Planned Parenthood clinics.”

Since Roe V. Wade was overturned in June 2022, Hochul and lawmakers in New York state have continued to increase abortion access. That same month, Hochul signed a series of abortion-related measures into law that the NYSCC said will allow the state to “continue to focus on promoting abortion.”

The four pieces of legislation, which the NYSCC called “Abortion Sanctuary Bills,” encourages women from out of state to come to New York for abortions, shields state abortion providers from arrest and extradition to another state, while also prohibiting misconduct and malpractice charges against them.  

Then in June 2023, lawmakers approved legislation granting legal protection to New York doctors who prescribe and send abortion pills to patients in states that have restricted abortion.

The New York State Catholic Conference represents the Bishops of New York state in public policy matters.