Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
Although the most discussed aspect of the pro-life movement is conservatives’ effort to limit when and if women will have the option to terminate a pregnancy, there is a growing effort on the right to augment abortion restrictions with pro-family programs.
Last week, as first reported by the Christian Post, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed seven laws of the latter variety in an effort, he said, to make raising a child more feasible as the state unequivocally seeks to all but eliminate abortions.
Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban was the law being challenged in the Dobbs case, which led to the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade in 2022.
“While I’m extremely proud of the role that Mississippi played in this monumental victory, winning a court case was never our true objective,” Reeves tweeted Wednesday. “Rather, it was building a culture of life throughout our state and throughout our nation.
“Today in Mississippi, we are leading the way in advancing support for moms and babies.
“The legislation I signed today is further proof that when it comes to protecting life, Mississippi isn’t just talking the talk – we’re walking the walk.”
Almost a year ago, Mississippi led the way to the greatest conservative win in a generation – the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
While I’m extremely proud of the role that Mississippi played in this monumental victory, winning a court case was never our true objective. Rather, it…— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) April 19, 2023
The new laws, which Reeves described as “pro-mom and pro-life,” put a premium on the adoption process. Prospective adoptive parents will now receive increased tax credits – $10,000 for adopting a child from Mississippi and $5,000 for adopting a child from out of state – and foster parents now have a codified bill of rights.
Another of the seven laws created a state-level task force that will advise the governor and legislature on other changes that could be made to state law to expedite the fostering and adoption processes.
Reeves also signed into law a measure that increases the age at which a child can be dropped off at one of the numerous safe locations across the state. Among those locations are “safe haven baby boxes,” which are installed into the walls of firehouses or hospitals so that mothers can safely and anonymously surrender a child.
“Mississippi will always protect life. Our state will continue to be a beacon on the hill, a symbol of hope for the country, and a model for the nation,” Reeves said in a statement. “Mississippi will be relentless in its commitment to life. We will be relentless in our support of mothers and children. And we will be relentless in our efforts to advance the New Pro-life Agenda. The legislation I signed today is further proof that when it comes to protecting life, Mississippi isn’t just talking the talk – we’re walking the walk.”
No leaders on the left issued any real rebuke of Reeves or Mississippi for the creation of these new laws. Most were practically unassailable as few political figures would want to stake their fortunes on opposing the adoption of children.
The only law that might have carried some controversy – the creation of a tax credit for pregnancy centers – stirred no real anger.
At the federal level, some Democrats have been highly critical of crisis pregnancy centers. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has accused crisis pregnancy centers of torturing pregnant women and has advocated shuttering such facilities.
No such remarks emerged from Mississippi.
However, Brandon Presley, the Democrat who is seeking to unseat Reeves in the upcoming Mississippi gubernatorial race, criticized Reeves for not doing more.
Specifically, Presley wants Reeves to expand Medicaid access to the working poor. Reeves and Mississippi conservatives have resisted such an expansion because of its ties to the Affordable Care Act, popularly called Obamacare by the right.
“We’ve turned back billions of dollars in Mississippi,” Presley told Mississippi Today. “Not because of policy. Only reason we’ve turned down federal dollars for health care in Mississippi is petty, partisan, cheap politics.”