I can’t think of any topic in the last 50 years that has been more divisive than legalized abortion. As members of Albuquerque’s City Council we cannot only speak for ourselves, especially on such a contentious issue. We have the responsibility to speak as representatives of the 560,000 people who live, work, and pay taxes here.

On May 16, the City Council voted to appropriate $250,000 as an undirected lump sum to Planned Parenthood. I voted against this, along with Councilor Lewis and Councilor Sanchez, because one quarter of a million dollars is a loud statement to make on behalf of Albuquerque taxpayers, many of whom can’t agree with it as a matter of conscience.

I introduced R-22-46 on June 6 to pull that money out of Planned Parenthood and make an equally clear statement that the people of Albuquerque do not all agree that abortion is health care. These folks are not anti-women extremists, they are mothers, fathers, and grandparents. They are people who believe that life is better than death, and that justice demands that we speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when we’re called extremists.

This is not a simple disagreement on a political issue. For many people, abortion is sanctioned murder. It is wasteful and wrong to give $250,000 of taxpayer money to a business that makes $1.3 billion every year advocating for and performing this procedure.

I don’t pretend that this resolution will end the injustice of abortion, nor will withdrawing the funding from Planned Parenthood make a small dent in their billion-dollar business. But the line item in the budget was intended to make a statement – one that is inconsistent with the consciences of many citizens. Anyone who wishes to make a statement of their own in favor of abortion is still free to write a check to Planned Parenthood; they just shouldn’t do it with taxpayer dollars.

City Council is in the business of making bold statements. But what we speak on behalf of citizens should be aspirational and encouraging. We should speak of life and help and hope; of fairness and justice. Re-directing this funding to the Barrett House, a shelter that helps women and children escape exploitive and oppressive situations, is a much better use of those funds.

City Councilor Renee Grout is a wife, mother, grandmother, small business owner and community volunteer. She is committed to ensuring our neighborhoods are safe and our quality of life is high. Focusing on supporting law enforcement, fighting crime, combatting homelessness, and revitalizing District 9 are her top priorities. She and her husband, Jim have been married for 38 years, raised 3 children, and have 7 grandchildren.