Antiabortion Groups Urge Officials To Reduce Planned Parenthood Funding During Economic Crisis

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 11 Dec 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Antiabortion-rights advocates are lobbying state and local governments to reduce public funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America chapters and clinics, saying that the not-for-profit group has considerable cash on hand and should not be a recipient of sparse public funds during an economic crisis, the Wall Street Journal reports. About one-third of Planned Parenthood's budget comes from government contracts and grants -- about $335 million annually -- which subsidizes contraception, sex education and non-abortion-related health care for low-income women. The organization also is the nation's largest abortion provider, and critics argue that public funds "indirectly subsidize abortions by keeping hundreds of Planned Parenthood clinics afloat," the Journal reports. Although conservative Christian groups -- such as the Family Research Council -- are leading the new lobbying effort, the groups' argument "focuses more on economic than moral concerns," according to the Journal. The advocates have been portraying Planned Parenthood as a wealthy organization that does not need taxpayer assistance. In 2007, Planned Parenthood reported record revenue and a $115 million budget surplus, and it is developing "a network of elegant health centers to attract middle-class clients," the Journal reports.

Planned Parenthood says that its services address a critical need for health care, especially at a time when more people are losing their jobs and, consequently, their health insurance. In the past, cuts in public funding have forced Planned Parenthood chapters to close, increase fees or reduce subsidized contraception. In recent weeks, Planned Parenthood chapters in Fulton County, Ga. -- which includes Atlanta -- and Sarasota County, Fla. -- which covers southwest and central Florida -- lost public funds because of tight local budgets. Fulton County's chapter lost a $420,000 contract as part of statewide health care cuts, and Sarasota County lost annual grants of as much as $30,000 that funded sex education programs. Former Sarasota County commissioner Paul Mercier said, "It had nothing to do with Planned Parenthood's mission. It had everything to do with them not needing the funding."

Meanwhile, FRC is developing materials to help grassroots advocates scrutinize Planned Parenthood financial reports and present elected officials with detailed reports about the assets and revenue of local chapters. In addition, FRC has sent letters to 1,200 state lawmakers describing Planned Parenthood's finances and urging a "second look" at public funding for the group. Thomas McClusky -- vice president for government affairs at FRC -- said that the organization is "very limited" as to what it can do at the federal level but that there are "a lot of victories to be had" on the local level. FRC has focused its efforts on officials in states it believes are likely to be receptive, including Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky.

Planned Parenthood officials say the lobbying campaign is misleading lawmakers about the group's finances. Barbara Zdravecky, CEO of the Sarasota County chapter, said, "Our audits look pretty fat, and they've used that against us." In reality, operating revenue is down and the chapter is running at a deficit, she said. Zdravecky and others argue that cutting public funding to the organization is short-sighted and will ultimately increase strain on taxpayers because services such as contraception and cancer screenings will be inaccessible to low-income women (Simon, Wall Street Journal, 12/10).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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