Partisan Attacks and Knee-Jerk Support of Abortion Should Not Replace Fiscal Responsibility, Says Americans United for Life

"Representatives Henry Waxman and Diana DeGette should put aside their partisan rancor to engage in a thoughtful examination of whether Planned Parenthood is properly using federal dollars," said AUL's Dr. Charmaine Yoest

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans United for Life President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest called the efforts of Representatives Henry Waxman and Diana DeGette to end the investigation of Planned Parenthood's use of millions in taxpayer funding "a misguided partisanship that is replacing fiscal responsibility."

After news that Representative Cliff Stearns of the Energy and Commerce Committee had asked for records from the abortion mega-provider to examine troubling questions regarding Planned Parenthood's use of taxpayer dollars and its institutional policies and practices, ranking member Rep. Waxman and Rep. DeGette sent a letter to Representative Stearns suggesting that no reasons exist to justify an investigation.

"One of the best things that will come out of this investigation is an education for the American people and for the members of Congress about the state of affairs behind the closed doors of Planned Parenthood," said Dr. Yoest. "As federal funding of Planned Parenthood has doubled, so have the number of abortions it performs. With seven in 10 Americans - pro-life and pro-choice - saying that they don't want to support abortion with their tax dollars, this should be evaluated.

"It is time for Cecile Richards and Planned Parenthood to justify their use of more than $360 million in taxpayer funding each year. Throughout Planned Parenthood's own records we have seen patterns of financial irregularities along with concerns with how well the nation's largest abortion provider handles cases in which young girls are victims of sexual crimes."

Earlier this year, AUL released the groundbreaking report "The Case for Investigating Planned Parenthood" that thoroughly documents the abuse inherent in Planned Parenthood, with its own records and other original source materials.  To read the full report and an analysis of Planned Parenthood's response to the report, click here.

Dr. Yoest noted that in their letter, Representatives Waxman and DeGette also mischaracterize the legislative strides made in Congress this year as the U.S. House voted twice by bi-partisan vote to end all federal funding to Planned Parenthood.  Both of these votes in the U.S. House were historic victories and signified that both Republicans and Democrats support the overwhelming majority of Americans who do not want to be forced to fund an abortion-centric organization.

Dr. Yoest called on Americans to support Rep. Stearns' investigation into whether the public trust was violated by misuse of taxpayer dollars at Planned Parenthood.

SOURCE Americans United for Life