Letter: De-Fund Planned Parenthood

I’m writing to urge you to support H.B. 294 to end taxpayer-funding of Planned Parenthood, a billion dollar corporation that is responsible for over 327,000 abortions in America each year. Every day, Planned Parenthood receives over 1.4 million taxpayer dollars, what amounts to $528 million in a year.

Of pregnant clients who go to Planned Parenthood, 94 percent have an abortion. Just 5 percent result in an adoption referral, and less than one half or one percent get prenatal care.

Planned Parenthood does not have a monopoly on “women’s health.” Ohio has 50 community action agencies, 55 free clinics, 125 local health departments, and 200 community health centers that help women. This is not to mention our nearly 200 pregnancy help centers and our 213 statewide hospitals that spent nearly $1 billion in free charity care in 2011.

According the Pew Research Center, half of the American public believes that abortion is morally wrong, while just 15 percent believe it is morally acceptable. I count myself among the half who believe that it is wrong. As such, I oppose my tax dollars being used to fund a corporation that performs over 300,000 abortions every year.

I ask you to support this legislation now more than ever as heart wrenching videos continue to be released—videos that show Planned Parenthood executives callously negotiating the alleged sale of parts of aborted babies. Such disregard for human life should not be considered normal or acceptable in the United States of America.

Please support the initiative to de-fund Planned Parenthood and protect our conscience rights.