Abortion Provider Sues Over Funds

Special Report - July 8, 2011
Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina (PPCNC) has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the State for a provision in the recently enacted state budget that prohibits Planned Parenthood or any of its affiliates from receiving state funding, as well as certain federal funding administered by the State. The lawsuit, Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina v. Cansler, was filed Thursday, July 7 in Greensboro in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. In the filing, Planned Parenthood asks the court to issue a temporary injunction against the defunding provision while the case against the State makes its way through the court system. According to press reports, the PPCNC lawsuit argues that the provision in the state budget violates the U.S. Constitution. “Their sole purpose is to single out, vilify, and punish Planned Parenthood as a particularly visible provider and advocate —even though, ironically, the eliminated funds have nothing to do with abortion, but will only deprive low-income people of desperately needed health services and teen pregnancy prevention programs," the lawsuit states, according to an Associated Press report.

The provision in question is Section 10:19 of the State Budget, HB 200—Appropriations Act of 2011, which states “For fiscal years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, the Department of Health and Human Services may not provide State funds or other funds administered by the Department for contracts or grants to Planned Parenthood, Inc., and affiliated organizations.” North Carolina is the third state in the country to enact legislation that cuts off funding to Planned Parenthood, following in the footsteps of Indiana and Kansas. Although the Governor initially vetoed HB 200, both the House and the Senate secured enough votes to override the Governor’s veto.

In an open letter posted on its website, Janet Colm, President and CEO of PPCNC wrote that the PPCNC board of directors has “voted unanimously to absorb the state and federal funds we’re losing for up to two months.” PPCNC reportedly received over $287,000 in federal, state and local funds through the state DHHS last year for teen pregnancy prevention programs and family planning programs including contraceptive services.

“Planned Parenthood is the single largest abortion provider in the nation and our tax dollars should not go to organizations who are in the business of killing unborn children,” stated Barbara Holt, President of North Carolina Right to Life.

Related resources:
2011 Legislative Review - June 22, 2011
Legislature Musters Historic Veto Override - June 16, 2011
Fewer Planned Parenthood Clinics- March 28, 2011

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