Mont. House Panel Rejects Motion To Restore Family Planning Funds
March 13, 2013 — The Montana House Appropriations Committee on Monday voted 11-10 against a motion that would have restored $4.6 million in federal family planning funds that flow through the state to local health clinics, The Missoulian reports.
Republicans on a budget subcommittee previously blocked the funding from a state budget measure because a portion of the money was expected to go to five clinics that are operated by Planned Parenthood of Montana. A total of 25 health clinics statewide, which serve about 26,000 women annually, would have received the funding.
Rep. Ron Ehli (R), chair of the budget subcommittee, argued that although federal law prohibits the use of the funds for abortion services, many Montana residents do not want the money to go to family planning providers that also provide abortions.
Democratic lawmakers expressed disappointment with the committee vote, arguing that it is unfair to penalize all clinics because some also provide abortions. They added that the funding supports vital health services for low-income Montanans (Dennison, The Missoulian, 3/11).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Search the Archives
Subscribe
The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
