Jackson County Executive Frank White wants to pay for abortion travel

Jackson County Executive Frank White announced before last fall’s midterm election that he planned to release $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay women who travel out-of-state to end the life of their unborn child through an abortion. The fund is known as the Jackson County Reproductive Equity Fund.

Although the money will not be used to cover the costs of abortions, it will be made available to help women and family’s cover the cost of transportation, lodging and child care for women seeking abortions. If approved by the Jackson County Legislature, the fund also would provide support for organizations like Planned Parenthood that already are providing abortion access in the region.

“As elected leaders, it is our responsibility to take action when our community is in danger. and it is clear that the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade has created a major health crisis in Jackson County,” White, a Democrat, said. “The Jackson County Reproductive Equity Fund will provide support for women of all ages and circumstances, including victims of rape and incest who are now legally forbidden from terminating the pregnancy of their assailant.”

Critics have said using federal taxpayer funds, originally given to help local governments recover from the effects of Covid lockdowns, is wrong a misuse of those funds.

Linda Verhulst, director of Missouri Right to Life–Western Region, agrees.

“For those of us Missourians who honor the sanctity of life and defend legislation that supports it, this initiative is a betrayal and a cheap bait and switch for abortion advocates to get their way, not just at any cost, but at our cost,” Verhulst told Metro Voice. “I find it arrogant that those who believe that abortion is their ‘right’ would lobby to take funds that could be better used to improve our community, rather than diminish its population.”

This plan came in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade unconstitutional and Missouri automatically banning the procedure because of a “trigger clause.”

It is not yet clear when the Jackson County Reproductive Equity Fund will be officially established, according to KMBC-TV. But even if the plan does gain approval, there are looming legal hurdles to clear. A similar plan was approved by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen last year after then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued, saying abortion access is not a legal use of federal relief funds.

Pete Mundo the Morning Show Host of KCMO Talk Radio says White is deflecting from the county’s poor record on crime and taxes. “Frank White should have to answer on his record of crime and property assessment issues that are putting people out of their homes instead of trotting out the same tired old democrat talking points,” Mundo stated in November when White first brought up the idea.

For Verhulst, she hopes that as voters become aware of the plans, they speak up on the county plans. “It is blindness to think that money well spent is money that assists in the termination of life,” she says.

For more information on the impact of this legislation, visit the website of MRL-Western Region or call 816-353-4113,

–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice