Iowa GOP Calls for Defunding Planned Parenthood

Saturday the Iowa GOP State Central Committee passed a resolution calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood by a nearly unanimous vote.

The resolution submitted by state central committee member David Chung reads:

Whereas, the Platform of the Republican Party of Iowa has consistently recognized the sanctity of human life and the personhood of the unborn, and

Whereas, recent information has indicated that Planned Parenthood may be illegally profiting from the sale of baby parts,

We, the Republican Party of Iowa, acknowledge and applaud the past and ongoing efforts of Governor Branstad and the Republican caucuses in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate to advance the cause of life, stand with them in their efforts, and now encourage them to remove all state and state-controlled funding from Planned Parenthood as soon as possible using all means and methods at their disposal, including all funding for non-abortion related services.

The Des Moines Register reported Saturday that the audit ordered by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad revealed that no taxpayer money was used for abortions, including in the Medicaid program.

They also note:

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has said about 26 percent of its Iowa financing, or nearly $2.7 million a year, comes from public sources. Most of that money comes from programs under Medicaid, which is jointly financed by the federal and state governments. It is used for such things as family planning programs, the private agency has said.

The resolution is pretty clear – all taxpayer funding needs to cease – not just money that goes towards abortion.  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal provided an example for Branstad to follow cancel any Medicaid contracts with Planned Parenthood.  If there are any other grants funding Planned Parenthood those should be ended as well.

Until then Iowa is still providing support for Planned Parenthood which allows them to use private donations they receive for other purposes.  The ball is in Branstad’s court do actually do something real to address to satisfy Iowa taxpayers who are appalled their taxes are being used to prop up this evil organization.

HT: The Iowa Statesman

Update: It is important to note that the Iowa GOP did not send out a press release Saturday after this important news event.  One can only speculate as to why, but it doesn’t look good.

2nd Update: I was told that a press release was not sent out because the committee meeting got out right before the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition fall dinner started and the staff and leadership had a table at that.  The press release will go out tomorrow. Also I was asked who cast the dissenting vote and that was Sherrill Whisenand who voted no, not because she was against defunding Planned Parenthood, but because she didn’t believe the State Central Committee should pass resolutions over policy.

3rd Update (Monday 9/21/15): A press release was sent out this morning with statements by the chair and co-chair of the party.

“We could not sit by silently after learning more about Planned Parenthood’s horrific practices,” Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said. “For years Republican legislators and Governor Branstad have fought to remove state funding from Planned Parenthood, and it’s important for the Republican Party of Iowa to show that we have their backs in this fight.”

“We’ve all seen the videos, which show Planned Parenthood employees dismembering our most vulnerable and selling their body parts,” Co-Chair Cody Hoefert said. “Now is the time for us to all work together — with renewed vigor — to defund this immoral practice and ensure every life is treated with its God-given dignity.”