TOPEKA – Gov. Mark Parkinson excised a provision in the state’s wrap up budget that would have prevented Planned Parenthood from receiving money for non-abortion family planning services.
He approved the remaining majority of the Senate substitute House Bill 2373.
Planned Parenthood last year received about $300,000 of the money, which are federal funds that the state administers.
“Regardless of one’s views on whether abortion should be allowed in this country, hopefully we can all agree that we should make every effort to prevent unplanned pregnancies,” wrote the governor in his veto message. “Access to affordable family planning services and contraceptives is critical if we are to continue reducing the number of abortions that occur in this state.”
State Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, inserted the provision into the omnibus budget bill during the Legislature’s wrap-up session earlier this month. Both chambers passed the bill including the provision.
While the money cannot be used for abortions, Huelskamp proposed blocking the funds because the Planned Parenthood does offer abortion services, he said in a release when the budget bill passed.
Parkinson, a Democrat, noted in his veto message that the group was eligible under the federal grant to receive the money, so the state could not block the funds.
For more details on the veto and the budget, read Saturday’s Wichita Eagle.
Below is the full veto message from Parkinson:
Section 89 has been line-item vetoed in its entirety:
“Regardless of one’s views on whether abortion should be allowed in this country, hopefully we can all agree that we should make every effort to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Access to affordable family planning services and contraceptives is critical if we are to continue reducing the number of abortions that occur in this state.
“This section would prohibit distribution of Title X moneys to private family planning providers unless they are either a hospital or provide comprehensive primary and preventative care in addition to family planning services. This proviso would prevent funding for two facilities of other eligible family planning providers. These facilities do not perform abortions, and by law, Title X funding cannot be used for abortion services.
“Both of these facilities provide affordable access to contraceptives and family planning services for women who are significantly below the poverty level. These women are most at risk for unplanned pregnancies. The family planning services provided by these facilities help lower the likelihood of unplanned pregnancy, and thus reduce abortions. Eliminating funding for programs intended to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies does nothing to help reduce abortions in Kansas.
“I am also concerned this proviso violates Title X of the Public Service Act. The facilities ineligible for funding under this proviso are, by law, eligible under Title X to receive the grants. The Public Service Act is clear that states are not permitted to refuse the award of Title X funding to entities that meet the statutory requirements for the grants. I therefore find it necessary to line-item veto this proviso.”
9 Comments
Funding Planned Parenthood will provide affordable contraception which will prevent abortions, that upsets Operation Rescue as they profit the most from abortion.
It boggles the mind that extremist anti-choice legislatures want to bar funding from a group that provides family planning so that women don’t have to have abortions. Of course, the real goal of these extremists is to control women. Good for Gov. Parkinson.
I am glad Gov. Parkinson stood up for the best interests of Kansans rather than caving to a special interest lobby.
It’s about time that women’s rights are upheld. It absolutely floors me that people think they have a right to make choices for other people. This is suppose to be a free country – that’s an absolute joke. It a free country for men only – I am ready for the day when women have equal rights.
Hey sunshinelover, you have been in the sun too long. For women to have equal rights, they would have to give up some to fall back to the level of equality.
Funny how all the left wing dill holes who wanted to tar and feather “Pukinson” a couple of weeks ago when he cut their legs off on the Sunflower Power Plant deal can’t sing his praises loud enough today.
Oh well. A snake in the grass is a snake in the grass whether he’s a republican or democrat and especially if he’s been both.
This common sense decision is to be applauded.
If Operation Rescue was as true to its name as Planned Parenthood is to its name, there wouldn’t be such a problem with abortions. Planned Parenthood has prevented far more pregnancies than Operation Rescue can ever hope to, even if they could make abortions illegal. Abortions would still continue illegally like they did before they were legalized. What would Operation Rescue go after then; birth control? They are quite the operation, but what good are they really doing? You can’t legislate morality, for men or for women.
“Regardless of one’s views on whether abortion should be allowed in this country, hopefully we can all agree that we should make every effort to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Access to affordable family planning services and contraceptives is critical if we are to continue reducing the number of abortions that occur in this state.”
Sounds like a wise man. A prevented pregnancy is an abortion that can’t happen. There are many in the middle who are against abortion, but all for teaching about every possible method available to avoid pregnancy.