Planned Parenthood funding ban sought

But group says it has no plans to solicit tax share

Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter made a big splash in January when he promised to restore family planning funds to groups including Planned Parenthood.

Democrats cheered Ritter's plan during his State of the State speech, but some Republicans were alarmed, fearing that state money would be used to fund abortions.

"The governor wants to give money to groups that provide abortions, and I don't think he should," said Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma. "That's the issue."

But Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood, said the bulk of the money pays for contraception, family-planning services and general women's health services, not abortions.

"It's true that Planned Parenthood provides abortions, but it's a very, very small portion of the services they provide," Boyd said.

On Friday, Colorado Right to Life members delivered 600 signed forms to Ritter's office, asking him not to provide tax dollars to Planned Parenthood.

But Ritter's position is unchanged, said his spokesman, Evan Dreyer.

At issue is about $400,000 Ritter insists will be used to prevent unwanted pregnancies, not end them.

The debate has simmered since Republican Gov. Bill Owens' administration announced in 1999 that it would no longer give state money to groups that also provided abortions.

The Owens administration said voters had specifically said no state money could be used for abortions.

Critics were outraged, saying Planned Parenthood for some 20 years had used state tax dollars for family planning and women's health issues. The money wasn't used for abortions, they said.

But the decision held, despite threats of a court battle.

The state eventually took the money it gave to Planned Parenthood and another organization and reallocated it to those agencies already receiving state money for family planning, such as the Jefferson and Larimer county health departments.

State-funded health clinic clients receive several services, from counseling, contraceptives and even Plan B, according to Mark Salley, spokesman with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Under Ritter's administration, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains will again be eligible to apply for state family-planning money, Dreyer said. But Planned Parenthood isn't interested.

Kate Horle, vice president of public affairs at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said other agencies are doing great work with the $400,000 her organization used to get, and she sees no reason to interfere.

"We want to make sure that those family-planning clinics continue to have the funds they currently have access to," Horle said.

"We're simply not willing to displace other health care providers."

Where do the tax dollars go?

Colorado for years has annually allocated tax dollars to organizations that offer family-planning services.

$1.2 million

Amount the state currently gives to 25 agencies for family-planning services.

$3 million

Amount of federal money the state doles out for the same services.

Family-planning services include:

• Contraceptives

• Health care

• Screening

• Counseling

• Education

• Plan B, also known as the morning-after pill

Do not include:

• Abortions

• RU 486

Cost to client: Services are provided on a sliding fee scale based on income

Some of the 25 agencies that receive the money include:

• City & County of Broomfield

• Denver Health & Hospitals

• El Paso County Health Department

• Mesa County Health Department

• Weld County Health DepartmentSource: Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327