News

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, June 25, 2002 (LSN.ca) – Planned Parenthood is supposed to be a non-profit, non-political organization. For example, in its lawsuit against a Regina protestor (see today’s coverage), lawyers claim it offers merely a “sexual and health clinic that provides medical and informational services to its clients so they can make informed choices regarding their sexual health.”  In the United States, the fact Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization means it is forbidden to use federal “family planning” funds to fight political campaign.  But if this year’s Republican primary for Illinois governor was any indication, pro-life candidates across the nation can expect an onslaught of attacks from PPFA’s political action committees. “Planned Parenthood Votes Illinois” (PPVI) spent between $220,000 and $250,000 to defeat pro-life gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan in the state’s March primary, according to Ryan’s campaign spokesman Dan Curry.  Under investigation by CNSNews (Cybercast News Service), PPFA has evaded questions as to how it spends an estimated $60 million taxpayer dollars per year it receives—or whether its 75 affiliates use the money to try to defeat conservative, pro-life Republican candidates for state Legislature, Senate, governor and Congress.  Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America (CWA) says PPF “can get [taxpayer] money for their family planning programs, which frees up other money to be spent on their political activities or on abortions”—using a second non-profit organization to do the dirty work. Ed Szymkowiak, a spokesman for STOPP International, a subsidiary organization of the American Life League, blames Republicans, including President Bush, for approving government programs that fund PPFA and “end up sending money to their [political campaign] enemies.”  To read CNSNews coverage see:  https://www.cnsnews.com/Culture/archive/200206/CUL20020624a.html