Lt. Gov. touts new pregnancy support program

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Lt. Governor Toni Jennings visited the offices of Florida Baptist Witness Mar. 3 for a 40-minute interview to tout a new state initiative to support women in crisis pregnancies, insisting that the state government should help to level the playing field in offering alternatives to abortion in the Sunshine State.

Citing as an example that there are 55 abortion providers in Miami while only five entities that offer pro-life alternatives, Jennings told the Witness, “We’re way outnumbered and we don’t need to be.”

Jennings and Senators Durell Peaden, Daniel Webster and Steve Wise joined various religious leaders Feb. 28 at Jacksonville’s Women’s Help Center to announce the new initiative, to be known as the Pregnancy Support Services Program.

According to information released from Gov. Jeb Bush’s office, nearly 92,000 abortions were performed in Florida last year, while 217,000 babies were brought to term—resulting in nearly one-in-three pregnancies ending in abortion. Since 2001, the number of abortions has risen by seven percent, while the number of newborns has increased by only by 5.4 percent.

“There’s lots of information about other alternatives. I think there needs to be equal information about how to take a pregnancy to term,” Jennings said in the Witness interview.

Florida’s program is modeled after a similar effort in Pennsylvania and will include a statewide, toll-free hotline to direct women in crisis pregnancies to local agencies offering abortion alternatives, provide funding for an advertising campaign about the hotline and create awareness about alternatives to abortion, provide funding for pregnancy counseling training, and provide funding for one-on-one counseling assistance for women for up to one year after giving birth.

According to Jennings, the Pennsylvania program — introduced by a pro-life Democrat governor and sustained by two pro-abortion governors of each party—has been “very successful.” The first year of the Florida program will receive $4 million, subject to the approval of the Legislature, which Jennings believes will be forthcoming. Florida joins 13 other states seeking to emulate the Pennsylvania initiative.

“We’re all about helping women with the choice, helping them through the crisis that comes, helping them understand what’s entailed and how they will move forward to deliver this baby and options after that,” Jennings said. “It is helping women who feel like there is no other option.”

Jennings emphasized that pro-life pregnancy care centers operated by churches and other religious organizations may be eligible to participate in the new program, although no state funds could be used for spiritually orientated counseling. Noting that such a separation was mandated to “pass the First Amendment test,” as long as abortion alternatives counseling funded by the program was kept separate from any religious counseling, religious providers will be able to participate.

Carl Willis, vice president for programs at Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, told the Witness some pregnancy care centers may have difficulty making such a separation, although FBCH, as a long-term contractor with the state of Florida, could “lend some advice to centers who pursue these funds” concerning how they may accept such funds, while continuing their uniquely spiritual mission to assist women in crisis pregnancies.

Willis praised the new initiative, noting that FBCH has been promoting abortion alternatives since 2000 when Kathleen Hiers was added to the staff to assist churches and associations seeking to begin pregnancy care centers.

“We, as believers, know the reason behind stopping abortions is not welfare services,” Willis added. “It is about the sanctity of life, every life. The mothers—and fathers—need to hear the saving message of the Gospel. The babies need to be given the opportunity to grow into what God intended.”

In her Witness interview, Jennings was asked if the new initiative indicated that the State of Florida is taking sides in the abortion debate. “I took sides a long time ago,” she replied, expounding on her “long history of being on the pro-life side” as a member of the Florida Legislature, including two terms as Senate President. Jennings was appointed Lt. Governor by Gov. Bush in 2003.

Nevertheless, Jennings told the Witness that the track record of support in Pennsylvania by politicians on both sides of the abortion debate from both major political parties suggests that Florida public officials who support abortion rights also should be able to support the new program.

“I think we will find that there are also a number of pro-choice supporters who would say this is long overdue,” she said.

Jennings rejected news accounts that suggested her involvement in announcing the initiative was tied to her potential future gubernatorial campaign. Jennings, along with Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, are widely expected to vie for the Republican Party nomination for governor in 2006. Gov. Bush, completing his second term, cannot seek re-election.

“I guess if I had not a history of being supportive in this vein, maybe it would be easier” to suggest political motives, Jennings told the Witness. “Those who have also been discussed as potential candidates” in the GOP “have always been identified as pro-choice, suddenly now say, oh, they’re pro-life,” she added, apparently referencing Crist and Gallagher.

With a “long-term history” of pro-life convictions, Jennings said her involvement in promoting the governor’s pregnancy support initiative is a “natural progression of things that I do,” also noting Gov. Bush asked her to take the lead to announce the new program. “This is his initiative and I’m an eager participant, an eager partner to pass it.”

Asked what Florida Baptists should know about her, Jennings replied, “Well, in the scheme of things, when you’re talking about social conservative issues, I ran in 1976, I spent 24 years in the Legislature with a consistent voting record for social conservative issues, as well as fiscal conservative issues.”

As a Christian who is a member of the Episcopalian Church, Jennings said her religious faith is “my center,” adding “it’s my beliefs—my spiritual beliefs—that help me decide what I believe is right and wrong.”

In her interview with the Witness, Jennings also touched on other issues, including Gov. Bush’s opposition to a state constitutional marriage amendment, and prospects for enabling legislation implementing Amendment 4 permitting slot machines referendums in South Florida, as well as legislation seeking the repeal of Amendment 4.