Stay tuned for video interviews with South Carolina lawmakers on their responses to Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.

Planned Parenthood and abortion vendors received a clear message to “go fund themselves.” 

The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) sent this message when they issued a landmark ruling, allowing states to cut funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion vendors on June 26th.

In the 6–3 decision, SCOTUS upheld South Carolina’s right to exclude abortion vendors from its Medicaid program—marking a major win for the Pro-Life Generation (PLG) and mothers & babies. 

South Carolina Representative Jordan Pace is now calling on SC Attorney General Alan Wilson to “claw back” all taxpayer dollars that have been sent to Planned Parenthood and all abortion vendors since 2018. 

“I am writing to you in your capacity as South Carolina’s Attorney General to request that your office pursue legal action to recover all state and federal tax dollars, including Medicaid funds, disbursed to Planned Parenthood South Atlantic or any of its affiliated entities operating within South Carolina since August 28, 2018,” South Carolina lawmaker Rep. Jordan Pace said in the letter.  

On August 28, 2018, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of Governor Henry McMaster’s executive order signed on July 13th of that year, which sought to remove Planned Parenthood and other abortion vendors from South Carolina’s Medicaid program.  

The injunction remained in place for nearly seven years until the SCOTUS ruling. That is seven years too long—years during which South Carolina taxpayers were forced to fund Planned Parenthood and other abortion vendors, while an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 preborn children continued to lose their lives in the state annually. 

And during those seven years, he believes at least $100,000 taxpayer dollars went to abortion vendors, as Rep. Pace shared with Students for Life of America. He said that number could possibly be higher. 

“It’s my opinion that in light of the court decision, taxpayers should get refunded that as much as we legally can,” he told us. “That’s why I asked the Attorney General’s office to investigate.”  

While opponents of the pro-life movement often argue that taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood do not fund abortions because of the Hyde Amendment, SFLA points out that these funds still subsidize the abortion industry by freeing up other resources within the organization – a financial concept known as fungibility. 

READ MORE: Students for Life Action Participates in ‘Save Hyde’ Rallies, Urges Democrats to Stop Forced Taxpayer Funding of Abortion 

Rep. Pace responded with the remark, “all that money is fungible,” adding that the funds Planned Parenthood and all abortion vendors would have used for “staplers and coffee” could be used to cover abortion.  

“Once you dump the money into their bank account, you can’t separate what goes to abortion, hormone pills, or whatever other things they’re doing,” he continued. 

“Why are we giving to an [organization] that is killing human beings?” Rep. Sarita Edgerton told SFLA while sitting in her local pregnancy help center (PHC).  

She argued against compelling taxpayers to financially support abortion vendors, explaining that giving “money to her church” is a personal choice, whereas being compelled to fund “the murder of children” violates her values. 

Following the Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic ruling, the “Big, Beautiful” Budget Bill signed by President Donald Trump on July 4th, paused Medicaid funding of Planned Parenthood and other abortion vendors for one year-to start. 

Alternatives to these dispensaries of death are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and PHCs. These are better than anything Planned Parenthood offers: 

• PHCs provide a wide range of services & material aid, typically at no cost. 

• FQHCs offer comprehensive health services including preventative care and cancer screenings, whereas Planned Parenthood prioritizes abortion & steadily decreased non-abortion offerings with each passing year. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) spends $5.1 billion annually to support more than 11,000 FQHC sites across the country. As of 2024, there are more than 17,890 FQHCs, FQHC service sites, and FQHC “look-a-likes” across the United States. Around 5,300 of these FQHCs specifically provide women’s health services. Planned Parenthood, on the other hand, has fewer than 600 facilities and sees millions fewer clients than are seen by non-violent healthcare entities.  

Redirecting the $500 million in taxpayer funding previously earmarked for Planned Parenthood to FQHCs and community clinics would expand their ability to serve more people in need – without killing anyone. 

Medicaid is meant to provide health insurance for those in need, and Planned Parenthood doesn’t deserve to pilfer scarce cash from taxpayers just because they’re good at paperwork.  

South Carolina remains a major battleground for pro-life victories and debates making national headlines with the state Supreme Court’s decision on the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act signed in 2023 and ongoing efforts to pass the Human Life Protection Act. 

READ MORE: SFLA in the Spotlight: Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic