A couple of weeks ago, I contacted Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) concerning an amendment to be added to a Department of Health and Human Services appropriations bill that would not allow any of the money to go to Planned Parenthood. I asked the reason why only PP was excluded from funding and not all abortion providers. The response below was stated in much more gentlemanly manner than the letter that I sent to Mr. Pence.
Dear Mr. Miller:
Thank you for contacting me regarding federal funding for Planned Parenthood. It was a pleasure to hear from you.
I agree with you that federal funds should not be used to promote or provide abortions and that a clear line of separation must exist between federal funding and abortion. Non-profit groups receive federal family planning grants under Title X of the Public Health Service Act (P.L.91-572). Under current law, they may not use those funds for abortion services and those clinics must provide unbiased pregnancy counseling.
I believe those rules are a good start.
However, I am concerned that the intent of those rules may be circumvented by family planning organizations that form separate, loosely affiliated corporations to handle different functions, namely abortions, while still operating within the same organization. When Title X money goes to organizations that provide both abortions and family planning services, even though the money cannot directly fund abortions, it can be used to offset operational costs, freeing up money to promote and provide abortions. I will continue monitoring this issue closely and will keep working hard to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding.
Again, thank you for contacting me. It is an honor to serve in the United States House of Representatives and have the benefit of your advice. If you would like more information on this or any other issue, please visit my website at http://mikepence.house.gov.
Warmest regards,
Mike Pence
Member of Congress
Even though he didn’t really answer my question, I suppose I should not have been so harsh with him about this—with a Democrat congress and pathetic do nothing President, there may not be much more that he could do. However, I still think that it is totally inexcusable to vote for a bill (H.R. 3010) which funds abortions in some cases during the 109th congress when Republicans had control over both houses and the Presidency. Mr. Pence’s statement that funds can’t be used for abortions directly is false. There are exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother, and chemical abortaficients. Allowing the money to be used for “family planning” for the unmarried is also reprehensible. These facts together with the fact that the money can, as he says, “be used to offset operational costs, freeing up money to promote and provide abortions” illustrates the point that the only way we are ever going stop this is to get rid of the DHHS altogether. If we don’t, this political energy draining issue will be a fight that will never really be won. KILL THE MONSTER.
Dear Mr. Miller:
Thank you for contacting me regarding federal funding for Planned Parenthood. It was a pleasure to hear from you.
I agree with you that federal funds should not be used to promote or provide abortions and that a clear line of separation must exist between federal funding and abortion. Non-profit groups receive federal family planning grants under Title X of the Public Health Service Act (P.L.91-572). Under current law, they may not use those funds for abortion services and those clinics must provide unbiased pregnancy counseling.
I believe those rules are a good start.
However, I am concerned that the intent of those rules may be circumvented by family planning organizations that form separate, loosely affiliated corporations to handle different functions, namely abortions, while still operating within the same organization. When Title X money goes to organizations that provide both abortions and family planning services, even though the money cannot directly fund abortions, it can be used to offset operational costs, freeing up money to promote and provide abortions. I will continue monitoring this issue closely and will keep working hard to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding.
Again, thank you for contacting me. It is an honor to serve in the United States House of Representatives and have the benefit of your advice. If you would like more information on this or any other issue, please visit my website at http://mikepence.house.gov.
Warmest regards,
Mike Pence
Member of Congress
Even though he didn’t really answer my question, I suppose I should not have been so harsh with him about this—with a Democrat congress and pathetic do nothing President, there may not be much more that he could do. However, I still think that it is totally inexcusable to vote for a bill (H.R. 3010) which funds abortions in some cases during the 109th congress when Republicans had control over both houses and the Presidency. Mr. Pence’s statement that funds can’t be used for abortions directly is false. There are exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother, and chemical abortaficients. Allowing the money to be used for “family planning” for the unmarried is also reprehensible. These facts together with the fact that the money can, as he says, “be used to offset operational costs, freeing up money to promote and provide abortions” illustrates the point that the only way we are ever going stop this is to get rid of the DHHS altogether. If we don’t, this political energy draining issue will be a fight that will never really be won. KILL THE MONSTER.
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