Supreme Court allows states to exclude abortion providers from Medicaid funds
by VDC staff
A national pro-life movement will see a local expression this Saturday as Vermont activists gather in front of Burlington’s Planned Parenthood clinic to protest the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion providers. The demonstration follows a landmark ruling this week by the U.S. Supreme Court that upholds South Carolina’s decision to exclude abortion providers from its Medicaid program.
In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the Court sided with South Carolina officials, reinforcing the rights of states to direct public funding away from abortion-related services. Pro-life groups across the country hailed the decision as a significant victory — legally and symbolically — and have scheduled rallies in dozens of cities as Congress considers legislation to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
In Vermont, the protest will be led by John Averill, a coordinator with the local chapter of 40 Days for Life. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, outside Planned Parenthood’s largest clinic in the state, located at 173 St. Paul Street in Burlington.
“This moment has been a long time coming,” said Averill. “Pro-life Vermonters are standing together with thousands across the country to send a clear message to Washington: taxpayer dollars should not support the abortion industry.”
The Vermont Right to Life Committee, which announced the protest in an email to supporters and members of the media, is using the Supreme Court’s decision to renew calls for Vermont lawmakers to reconsider how state Medicaid funds are allocated. Vermont currently does not restrict Medicaid coverage of abortion, placing it among the states with the most permissive abortion access laws.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England has not yet commented on the upcoming protest, but the organization has previously defended its use of public funds, emphasizing that the vast majority of its services in Vermont — including cancer screenings, STI testing, and contraception — are unrelated to abortion.
Meanwhile, Vermont’s congressional delegation, all strong supporters of reproductive rights, have spoken out against efforts in Congress to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding.