Court Asked To Review Anti-Abortion Tax Credit Law In Arizona

If you are giving money to a non-profit, you are assisting a charity.  But if that non-profit provides, offers referrals for, or even mentions abortions?  Well, suddenly it's no longer a charity in Arizona's eyes.  Or at the very least, not one people should be encouraged to support.

That's the argument behind a new law that denies the ability to provide matching tax credits when people donate to "abortion-related" groups.

Via AZ Central:

House Bill 2384 excludes from the state's Working Poor Tax Credit Program any organizations that "provide, pay for, promote, provide coverage of or provide referrals for abortions" or that financially support any organizations that do those things.

The Working Poor Tax Credit Program offers Arizona taxpayers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to donate to organizations that serve low-income residents. Individuals can claim up to $200, and a couple filing jointly can claim up to $400.

Arizona is the first state in the nation to address abortion through tax code in this way.

The domestic-violence coalition and the ACLU allege that the law violates freedom of speech and could be dangerous to abused women. The groups filed the request for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court of Arizona on Wednesday.

"The bill puts many organizations, including the domestic-violence coalition, in this difficult position where they have to decide between receiving donations and being able to provide care to the women they serve," said ACLU of Arizona Executive Director Alessandra Soler Meetze. "The state is basically saying if you provide these women with information about abortion, you are going to lose resources that help you keep your doors open."

The activists in the legislature say the bill is necessary to ensure tax dollars don't go towards supporting abortions.

This post was originally published at RH Reality Check, a site of news, community and commentary for reproductive health and justice