Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Planned Parenthood wins legislative skirmish over millions in state funding, but battle far from over


“We can’t let the pressure up now”



Planned Parenthood affiliates are sending emails to their supporters across California claiming a preliminary victory in the state legislature over the governor’s proposal to roll back a rate increase for the Family PACT program, a major source of Planned Parenthood’s multi-million dollar annual revenues.

“Last Monday the Budget Conference Committee voted to reject the Governor’s proposed cuts to the family planning program Family PACT!” reads one such email issued June 15 by Planned Parenthood of Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. “We could never have passed this hurdle without your help -- it was a huge step in the right direction, but we’re not done yet!”

On Monday, June 8, the Budget Conference Committee voted down a proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to reduce Family PACT spending by $36.8 million by reducing reimbursement rates paid to agencies like Planned Parenthood that provide services under the program. Family PACT, operated under the state’s Medi-Cal system, provides free family planning services to qualified recipients. Although Family PACT does not pay for surgical abortions, it does provide the so-called “morning after pill,” an abortion-inducing drug used in the earliest stage of pregnancy. 

Continue reading this article here: http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=96bc799a-9ef8-4fb8-881b-45ccdfdb4989