How Texas Pours Millions of Dollars Into Anti-Abortion Programs With Little Oversight

In this conversation, which originally took place on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, on Instagram, our speakers discuss their investigation into how Texas pours millions of dollars into anti-abortion programs with little oversight.

Speakers include:
Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica reporter
Jessica Kegu, CBS News investigative producer
Ziva Branstetter, ProPublica senior editor

More on the investigation:
Texas lawmakers who banned abortion promised to help families care for babies from unplanned pregnancies. They’ve pumped $140 million into anti-abortion nonprofits originally designed to deter women from seeking abortions, the largest such investment by any state since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. They say the program, called Thriving Texas Families, has provided millions of services to clients in need. But an investigation by ProPublica and ‪@CBSNews‬ found a system with few safeguards and riddled with waste that funnels a growing pot of state money to anti-abortion nonprofits.

While families go wanting, some nonprofits have bought land. Others are just sitting on taxpayer cash. One state lawmaker said ProPublica and CBS News’ findings show that the Thriving Texas Families program needs more oversight.

Read the story here: https://propub.li/3WhTybe
Watch the CBS News Report here:    • Texas sends millions to anti-abortion...  

0:00 Start
1:00 What is a crisis pregnancy center
1:30 CPCs after Roe’s overturn
2:55 Texas CPCs investigation
4:13 Challenges in investigating Texas CPC funding
6:06 How Texas subcontractors are spending anti-abortion program funding
10:03 Effectiveness of CPC services in Texas
12:45 Response to Texas CPC investigation
17:06 The need for assistance in Texas
21:10 How other states are using taxpayer funding for CPCs
24:20 What experts say about using taxpayer funding for Texas CPCs
27:07 How Texas lawmakers have responded to investigation findings
28:08 The potential for Texas’ CPC funding model to become a blueprint

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