Bloomington Herald-Times, May 14, 2008
To the Editor:
For the tenth consecutive year, Planned Parenthood is asking city government for a handout. For the tenth consecutive year, I urge the City Council to respect the views of pro-life citizens of Bloomington and reject this needlessly divisive subsidy.
No, the corporate welfare Planned Parenthood is requesting does not go directly to abortion services, and the $5000 PP is requesting for colposcopies will serve as a benefit to their clients. But there is no reason this service cannot be offered through a women's health facility that does not engage in the barbaric act of abortion.
This request by Planned Parenthood makes a mockery out of the John Hopkins social services fund and is clearly an attempt by Planned Parenthood to seek a political endorsement from city government. Planned Parenthood clearly does not need $5,000 in corporate welfare from city government. Planned Parenthood of Indiana's website has a news release from January announcing it had raised over $7.2 million for the "Tapestry of Strength" campaign, and PPIN's recent "Gathering of Goddesses and Gods" raised over $200,000.
Let the state organization fund the local Planned Parenthood, while the scarce Jack Hopkins funds can go to social service organizations that actually need it.
Scott Tibbs
For more, see my letter to the Bloomington City Council on this issue.
