Tennessee Governor Bill Lee gives the command to start engines prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
OAN Roy Francis
9:14 AM PT – Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee has proposed establishing a $100 million grant program for pro-life crisis center in his state.
Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) unveiled his plan, stating that his state has a “moral obligation” to support families. Under this plan, Tennessee would transform into “one of the top spending states” on organizations that support pregnant women who are in need of help and resources to keep their babies, rather than making the choice of abortion.
“Pro-life is much more than defending the lives of the unborn,” Lee said. “This is not a matter of politics. This is about human dignity.”
“Pro-life is much more than defending the lives of the unborn. This is not a matter of politics – this is about human dignity. We can have a healthy debate about the policy specifics, but we can also agree that America is rooted in a commitment to human dignity.”
Gov. Bill Lee pic.twitter.com/ndJftJ2OE2
— Justin McFarland (@ThisJustinTv) February 6, 2023
Another part of the plan is to expand “paid parental leave for state employees and widening the Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women and parents.”
“If approved,” the governor explained. “Tennessee will be the first Medicaid program in the nation to implement this kind of support. That’s pro-life. That’s pro-family,”
The governor’s administration also will demand that the federal government pay the cost of diapers for Medicaid recipients for a period of up to two years.
The governor, who is on the advisory board for a crisis pregnancy center, said that his other priorities include teacher pay raise, upgrading the state’s transportation system, and cleaning up toxic waste at industrial sites.
“We can have a healthy debate about the policy specifics, but we can also agree that America is rooted in a commitment to human dignity,” Lee said later on. “There was a significant shift in this country last year when it comes to protecting the lives of the unborn. We now all have an opportunity and a moral obligation to support strong Tennessee families.”
This plan was unveiled during Lee’s annual State of the State address which was held in front of the Republican-led legislature.
Tennessee is leading the nation as a guiding light for opportunity, security & freedom.
Tonight, we’ll lay out an agenda that prepares our state for the future & ensures Tennesseans continue to lead in the next great chapter of the American story.
Tune in at 6pm CT. pic.twitter.com/g06xEO2obM
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) February 6, 2023
The governor touts his state as “a guiding light for opportunity, security & freedom” and laid out his agenda going forward, which was met with protests from the Democrats in the state of Tennessee.
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