No state $ for Planned Parenthood

On Wednesday, August 5 the New Hampshire Executive Council voted to end a state contract with Planned Parenthood to provide family planning services to low-income and uninsured women.

Councilor Chris Sununu, a pro-choice Republican and swing vote on the Council, cast the deciding vote against the contract. Although he supported Planned Parenthood contracts in the past, on Wednesday Sununu said he was troubled by videos that show national Planned Parenthood employees discussing providing fetal tissue to medical researchers.

“Serious ethical and legal questions have been raised nationally about Planned Parenthood,” said Sununu. “New Hamp­shire would not even be considering approving such a contract if it were not for the political influence that Planned Parenthood has.”

Planned Parenthood maintains the videos were highly edited.

Planned Parenthood supporters also note that no state or federal money is ever used for abortions.

“It is clear that today’s vote is the result of an ideological and political attack against Planned Parenthood and a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, as there have been no allegations or evidence that Planned Parenthood of Northern New England has done anything but follow New Hampshire law and help thousands of women and families access health care,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan (D).

The Executive Council voted in favor of family planning contracts with the Concord Feminist Health Center, the Joan G. Lovering Health Center on the Seacoast and Weeks Medical Center in the North Country.