Your tax dollars at work

Marie Waldron column By Assemblymember Marie Waldron AD – 75 (R)

Recent reports regarding Planned Parenthood that appear to show officials and employees of that organization trafficking in human tissues have ignited a firestorm of controversy across the United States. Since Planned Parenthood receives public funding, a review of how taxpayer dollars are being spent is in order.

Several weeks ago, I requested an accounting of state funds paid to Planned Parenthood by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). In their response, DHCS indicated that California taxpayers have provided the staggering sum of $227.8 million to Planned Parenthood from general fund monies.

Expenditures were for services provided under the Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment program (FPACT) and Medi-Cal fee-for-service beneficiaries.

DHCS reported that $9.1 million was dispersed to Planned Parenthood exclusively for abortion services. This figure accounts for 45 percent of all state funded abortions. Total DHCS expenditures to Planned Parenthood and other providers in fiscal year 2012/13 exclusively for abortion services was $20.6 million, accounting for 176,000 procedures.

Like many on both sides of the abortion issue, I was deeply disturbed by these allegations. Selling fetal tissue for profit, aside from its barbarism, would be a direct violation of state and federal laws.

In response, I joined with Assemblymember Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and others to send a letter to Attorney General Kamala Harris requesting a full investigation of medical practices within Planned Parenthood.