Statement on Governor Pawlenty’s Cut to Family Planning Funding
January 27, 2009 3:17:00
Today, Governor Pawlenty announced a more than $2 million dollar cut to Family Planning Special Projects (FPSP) over the next biennium. These cuts will directly affect Minnesotans most in need of health care.
“Now is not the time for Governor Pawlenty to waiver in the commitment he made, in partnership with the Minnesota legislature, to invest in helping low income Minnesotans access family planning,” Stoesz said.
“As more and more Minnesota families lose jobs and insurance coverage, the Governor should not stand between some of the most economically challenged women in the state and the health care they need to build stronger futures.
Without public investment, nearly 60% of women in need of family planning assistance are unable to easily access basic public health programs.
“For every dollar invested in family planning programs a savings of more than $4.00 is realized. Women in need are four times more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than women at higher income levels,” said Stoesz.
“All women, regardless of economic status, must have the same opportunity to access health care, plan and space healthy pregnancies. Strong family planning is good health care policy, good public policy and makes good sense from both a fiscal and a social perspective,” Stoesz said.
For more than 80 years, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota has worked in our region to make sure all people have the information and the means to make free and responsible decisions about whether and when to have children. Planned Parenthood operates 29 clinics in Minnesota and South Dakota, providing quality and affordable family planning, reproductive health care services and education to more than 60,000 women and men each year.
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