TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A bill to permanently fund anti-abortion pregnancy centers is heading to Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
The Senate voted 21-12 for the bill Thursday, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.
Florida legislators have set aside money for the pregnancy centers since 2006. But the $4 million has to be renewed each year in the annual budget.
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Democrats argued that the state shouldn’t fund religious organizations or pregnancy centers that don’t provide a full range of services.
Republicans said that the state would simply be helping to care for women who chose to go through with their pregnancies.
Service providers can include faith-based organizations, but they can’t promote religious content nor use state money on other religious messages.
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