Orange County Cuts Off Planned Parenthood Funding

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by Emily Douglas

March 12, 2009 - 2:43pm (Print)

Lawmakers and anti-choice advocates threaten to cut off funding from Planned Parenthood all the time.  If you're disgraced Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, for example, you introduce a one-page amendment to the omnibus appropriations bill to deny Title X family planning funding to the agency.  If you're Tony Perkins, you call funding for basic women's health care services an "abortion industry bailout" and call for a ban on funds to Planned Parenthood. Your talking points don't mention that you don't want to fund preventive care services at a provider that offers only legal medical services, and that you'd like to defund that provider based on personal whims.  Usually, these threats don't come into fruition.

Now, Orange County legislators have followed through. They've cut a nearly $300,000 grant to Planned Parenthood to do health education and outreach.  "I personally have a problem with government funding of an organization that provides abortion services," said Supervisor John Moorlach, who placed the item on the agenda, said to the LA Times. 

The county money going to Planned Parenthood didn't fund abortions.  And just a few days ago, the fact that it did wasn't the reason for Supervisor Moorlach's objection.  "We have a problem with financing Planned Parenthood, period," Mario Mainero, Moorlach's chief of staff, told the Orange County Register. "We just don't think government money should be used to talk to teens and preteens about birth control and abortion."

So, it was the very services the grant funded that Moorlach has a problem with: he doesn't want teens to hear about contraception. 

"The $291,788 contract in question does not pay for abortion services. It funds education outreach efforts, such as comprehensive reproductive education for teens and preteens, including discussion about birth control, abstinence and sexually transmitted disease," the OC Register explains.

 

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A Medical Student and Former Komen Affiliate Responds to the Foundation's Recent Decision

by Sarah Stumbar
Feb 3, 2:19pm
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I am a recent member of Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Young Women’s National Advisory Council, a previous director of Stony Brook University School of Medicine’s chapter of Medical Students for Choice, and a future family medicine physician. I was incredibly disappointed by Susan G. Komen’s recent decision to end its funding of breast health programs at Planned Parenthood affiliates across the United States.

An Apology, But Not A Reversal, From the Susan G. Komen Foundation

by Will Neville
Feb 3, 2:03pm
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The Komen Foundation’s statement says that it “will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.” But this is NOT a reversal of any kind.

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7 comments
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CA NOW Thanks for the heads-up. I March 12, 2009 - 10:26pm

Thanks for the heads-up. I made sure this was posted about on the CA NOW blog as well, and we'll be sending out an action alert on it.

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Nanny Agency wow March 23, 2009 - 3:15pm

I think this is a big mistake, i know that times are tough, but it doesn't mean that you can just take away a service that helps so many. i hope it can get funding.

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Kevin Sandridge Too Bad... April 4, 2009 - 10:37pm

>>"We just don't think government money should be used to talk to teens and preteens about birth control and abortion."<<

I can see the need to funnel cash into other true stimulus programs, perhaps leaving this educational effort on the back burner for now. This said, I'm a huge believer in providing as much information to our teens as possible, as many will be faced with sex-ed situations in "real life" that they may be unable to handle without some factual information.

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Legal Marketing Surprised April 13, 2009 - 2:30pm

I was surprised to read that the funding for planned parenthood would be cut off. I realize that the economy is tough and California especially is struggling to pay their debts, but it is tough to hear about funding being cut for programs that are so beneficial to so many families, especially helping to inform and educate our youth about stds and pregnancy issues.

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zombo09 Does not sound like a very April 15, 2009 - 12:59am

Does not sound like a very wise decision at all. Wonder if it was really thought through?online roulette poker site online blackjack video poker divx movies horse betting iphone games

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visea What a horrible move. I May 23, 2009 - 3:56am

What a horrible move. I personally lived in the Orange County as a college student I know how much those services are needed. The Board of supervisors voted to make OC youth vulnerable and we all have to witness the results of this stupid decision.

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Orange County Information Parents Should Take Responsibility June 12, 2009 - 6:58pm

This is my two cents of the matter. I agree with you that on the reason why the program was cut. It did not fund abortions. That was just an excuse. My problem is the fact that we have to have these stupids programs in the first place. What are parents for? We live in a time where parents are shirking their responsibilities left and right. Look at Sarah Palin. Love her but she should have been watching her daughter better. If she had been a more involved parent than Bristol would not have gotten pregnant. She would have known that her daughter was sneaking out of the house or doing things that did not add up. Its the parent's job to raise their children NOT THE SCHOOLS or ANY ORGANIZATION. When you have parents who do their job than you do not need Planned Parenthood.