WASHINGTON, July 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- Yesterday Representatives Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) organized a special order on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to call for an end to federal taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.
"The idea that Planned Parenthood cares one wit about reducing the 'need for abortion' is absurd," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "But even if this were a sincere claim on their part, they have failed miserably by their own measure. The number of abortions Planned Parenthood performs continually rises, this year reaching 290,000. It is past time to de-fund Planned Parenthood. It is time for a taxpayers' revolt."
Planned Parenthood is the nation's number one abortion provider, providing 290,000 abortions last year. Planned Parenthood provided nearly one in five abortions nationwide in 2005, the latest year nationwide abortion statistics are available.
In her testimony on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) referenced a recent Wall Street Journal investigation highlighting Planned Parenthood's recent appeal to the affluent in her congressional district. The article cited opening of "express centers in wealthy Minnesota suburbs" with the purposes of appealing to women who are "already doing their grocery shopping, picking up their Starbucks, living their daily lives."
"They are big business. They are the Wal-Mart of big abortion," said Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). "They are the big box retailer. It's time to end their tax exempt status. It's a fraud. It is time to stop the public financing of Planned Parenthood -- it is the right thing to do."
According to its latest annual report, Planned Parenthood posted total revenues of $1,017,900,000 - over one billion dollars. Nearly one third of that -- $336.7 million - came from "government grants and contracts." In 2007, the U.S. Congress under new Democratic Leadership approved a $17 million dollar increase in federal taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood through the Title X Program. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and the Susan B. Anthony List opposed the increase.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 146,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.
www.sba-list.org - www.sba-listcf.org
