Planned Parenthood Is At It Again

Planned Parenthood Takes Credit for ObamaCare

In their recently released 2009-2010 annual report, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) claimed credit for helping to "shape and pass" the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act-ObamaCare. Pointing to this monstrosity as "a pivotal achievement," PPFA describes ObamaCare as "a promising new era of health care." A new era, yes-but many pro-life activists and religious leaders would characterize it differently. It promises an end to conscience rights for Christian employers and health care providers and the beginning of an outpouring of government abortion funding. Indeed, even though President Obama's executive order was supposed to protect conscience rights and prevent government abortion funding, it has not worked out that way. (See statement released by the National Right to Life for more details: http://www.nrlc.org/AHC/NRLCToHouseOnHealthBill.pdf.) As one commentator noted, "Health care exemptions were granted to McDonald's and numerous businesses within Nancy Pelosi's district, but the Obama administration won't extend conscience exemptions regarding abortifacient contraceptives for religious healthcare workers." And don't forget that during the 2011 budget fight, President Obama warned that he would shut down the U.S. government before letting House Speaker John Boehner present any budget that tried to cut off federal funds to Planned Parenthood. It seems ludicrous, then, that supporters of ObamaCare continue to deny that it allows for government funding for abortion. Consider the extent of government subsidies revealed in Planned Parenthood's annual report: Planned Parenthood reported over $1 billion in total net assets, and nearly half of this had come from the government. PPFA received $487.4 million from the government in 2010, a whopping 34% increase over the previous year. As Jeannie DeAngelis stated in the American Thinker, "In 2010, that is equivalent to 308,745,538 American citizens contributing $1.58 apiece to subsidize the running of a left-wing slaughterhouse." (Though PPFA claims that abortion represents only 3% of their business, based on their average charges, abortions accounted for more than half of their income. In 2010, the ratio was 1 adoption referral for every 391 abortions.) During a time of huge government debt, it makes little sense that the federal government would increase its funding of Planned Parenthood by over $124 million. This is particularly true in light of the following: A 2011 Gallup poll showing that a majority of Americans believe abortion is morally wrong.   PPFA's support from private sources eroding during the same one-year period, decreasing by 37.7%. Approximately 30 executives of PPFA earning salaries lucrative enough to place them in the top 1%.  Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated that "Despite an unprecedented effort by statewide and federal leaders to defund them, a wave of former employees willing to testify against them, and uniform agreement amongst Republican presidential candidates that they should be defunded, Planned Parenthood continues full-steam ahead. They are unwilling to answer to the pro-life American majority that wants out of this business."