So Very Long Overdue

Local Pro-Life Organization Calls Congressional Investigation “Long Overdue”

 Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).  Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), chair of the oversight and investigations panel, requested financial records and policies on reporting of underage sexual abuse.  Sterns cited PPFA’s “extensive record of violating state sexual assault and child abuse reporting laws, and of encouraging young girls to lie about their ages to circumvent state reporting laws.”  Reacting to the launch of the investigation, Lake County Right to Life President Bonnie Quirke said, “Finally!”

PPFA called Stearns’ request a “politically motivated attack,” “ideologically driven” and aimed at “undermining access to care.”  Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) called it part of a “Republican vendetta.”  Illinois’ Jan Schakowsky joined a handful of other members of Congress in condemning the investigation.

Quirke disagrees with these characterizations, citing, among other things, last December’s ruling by an Ohio judge that Planned Parenthood failed to comply with state abortion laws.  The client in the case, 14 at the time of the abortion, became pregnant by her 22-year-old soccer coach.  Planned Parenthood did not report suspected child abuse.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, CEO of Americans United for Life (AUL), also disagrees, stating that PPFL “ignored the heart of the issue, allegations of the mishandling of the taxpayer trust and taxpayer dollars.”  AUL’s recent extensive report was a catalyst in the launching of the investigation.  The organization noted that much of their report was documented by Planned Parenthood’s own records.  Further, audits from several states demonstrated a pattern of abuse of federal funds.  “Ensuring compliance with the law is not a partisan issue, and the Committee’s decision to investigate an organization that has been rocked by systemic fraud and abuse shows that Congress takes its responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars seriously,” Yoest said.

Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, receives $363 million annually from the federal government, none of which is permitted to go toward abortion.  Rep. Stearns asked for documentation showing how federal funding is segregated from abortion services.  In his letter to Cecile Richard, President of Planned Parenthood, Stearns asks, “If Planned Parenthood thinks they deserve our taxpayer money, why do they feel they can deny our elected officials the right to ask what they are doing with our taxpayer money?”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, called the probe a “critical step” in holding Planned Parenthood accountable.  “We strongly believe that as Congress and the American people learn more about Planned Parenthood, they will see the urgency in de-funding them immediately of the hundreds of millions of tax dollars they receive every year.”