"While President Bush's 2002 budget proposal would eliminate contraceptive coverage for federal employees, he has maintained funding for Title X, which is a big disappointment for pro-lifers," said Ed Szymkowiak, national director of STOPP International, a project of American Life League.
"Many of the so-called contraceptives Title X funds as 'family planning' often act to kill a human person before he or she can implant in his or her mother's womb. This is death by chemical and IUD, and through Title X, the American taxpayers are being forced to pay for such killings," said Szymkowiak.
In 1995, the House had a close vote over eliminating Title X completely. By a vote of 224 to 204, the House overruled its Appropriations Committee.s decision to eliminate Title X. "This is exactly what we are calling for -- the total elimination of Title X," said Szymkowiak, "and we are asking President Bush to retract his proposal for Title X funding."
Bush's reported 2002 Title X funding proposal mirrors the 2001 appropriation of $254 million (Kaiser Daily Report, 4/10/01). A July 2000 General Accounting Office audit (posted at www.stoppinternational.org) shows that Planned Parenthood received $52 million in federal tax money via Title X alone in 1998. Planned Parenthood received a total of nearly $143 million from various federal programs that year.
In 1998, total Title X expenditures were $203 million. Planned Parenthood received 26 percent of the total Title X funding. Projecting the same 26 percent share, Planned Parenthood's take from Bush's 2002 proposal would be roughly $66 million.
Release issued: 16 Apr 01
