Two Republican lawmakers called for an investigation into the use of special taxpayer backed, tax-exempt bonds going to abortion clinics around America.
Congressman Robert Pittenger of North Carolina and Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma charge in a Thursday letter that some cities and states have offered tax-exempt bonds to abortion providers so that they can build abortion clinics. “Every time one of these tax bonds is issued, there is a federal tax liability which is not paid. State and municipal bonds are meant to finance schools, bridges, roads, and other necessary infrastructure,” the letter states.
The lawmakers note instances in which these bonds have been delivered, including when the New York City government development agency issued a tax-free $15 million bond for renovation of Planned Parenthood’s headquarters in 2012. Planned Parenthood sold the facility for near $70 million in 2015, doubling the roughly $35 million they paid for the property in 2011.
Sarasota County, Fla., also gave Planned Parenthood an $8 million tax-free bond in 2007, so that the organization could build an abortion clinic, the lawmakers note. In another example, the Illinois Tax Authority gave an over $8 million tax-free bond to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Aurora, Ill.
A Planned Parenthood Clinic in Worcester, Mass., also received a $5 million tax-exempt bond, the letter reports.
Pittenger and Lankford requested a report on records of state, local, municipal, and county bonds that have been used to finance abortion clinics in the past 20 years. They also requested information on the federal tax liability associated with the issuing of those bonds and a list of states that issued the bonds. (RELATED: DOJ Launches Investigation Into Planned Parenthood)
Planned Parenthood is currently being investigated by the Senate Judiciary Committee whose chairman, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, requested that the abortion organization undergo investigation by the Justice Department and FBI investigation, according to a December 2016 committee report.
The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.