Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) just put together her ‘Opportunity Plan’ that would be a comprehensive and universal family assistance package that she is intentionally wrapping in abortion reduction language to get bipartisan support from pro-life activists. One of them endorsed her work in a Time magazine article:
The plan calls for a fully self-sustaining paid family and medical leave program, an increase in the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, universal pre-K, measures to make childcare more affordable, and equal pay for equal work. These measures are good in and of themselves. They would benefit the economy, strengthen families, increase opportunity, and empower women. They are just measures that would promote the common good. But they would also address the concerns and further the goals of both pro-life and pro-choice advocates. If pro-choice advocates are serious about choice, they should be working hard to ensure that no woman seeks an abortion because she feels it is an economic necessity, as this is incompatible with authentic choice. For pro-life advocates, this same goal will save the lives of many unborn children. Increased economic security and opportunity, greater flexibility at the workplace, and greater access to quality childcare and education for their children will lead many women to choose life.
We will see if the “right to life party” embraces the path of Dorothy Day and Martin Sheen by backing Gillibrand or if it embraces Paul Ryan’s Randian take on Catholic social teaching. I hope the former for the good of the country.