Planned Parenthood caught violating Colorado law

"Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains was caught red-handed violating Colorado state law, and now the state will withhold $381,956 in taxpayers' dollars from this death-dealing organization," said Ed Szymkowiak, national director of STOPP International (an American Life League division). "That's good news."

In 1999, Gov. Bill Owens implemented a ban on state funding for any group linked with abortion. To get around the law, the Colorado Planned Parenthood affiliate formed a separate corporation to operate abortion clinics in the state. A recent audit showed Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains was illegally subsidizing rent payments for the new abortion corporation.

"This is not the first time Planned Parenthood has been caught violating the law in order to soak the taxpayers for more money for abortion," said Szymkowiak. "For instance, in 2000, the U.S. Government Accounting Office caught International Planned Parenthood illegally giving $700,000 in U.S. taxpayer money to affiliates engaged in abortion and abortion advocacy overseas."

Szymkowiak said, "Planned Parenthood can't be trusted. It's time for every state legislature and the federal government to de-fund Planned Parenthood." He pointed out that in its last annual report, Planned Parenthood Federation of America noted that it received $187.3 million from taxpayers in one year. That's 30 percent of its total income.

Release issued: 19 Dec 01