Kansas Gov. Parkinson Urged To Veto Removal Of Planned Parenthood Funding In Budget

Supporters of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri are urging Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) to veto a provision in a budget bill (H.B. 2373) that would eliminate the group's funding, the AP/Wichita Eagle reports. The bill aims to balance Kansas' budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The original bill was approved by the Legislature and former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who resigned in April to become HHS secretary. It included $250,000 in state funding for Planned Parenthood for FY 2010. However, lawmakers later amended the budget with a new bill that includes a provision eliminating the funding after state revenue projections declined, the AP/Eagle reports.

While antiabortion-rights advocates want Parkinson to retain the provision, about two dozen supporters of Planned Parenthood gathered on Tuesday to urge Parkinson to line-item veto the provision. They left petitions at the governor's office with about 3,500 signatures, the AP/Eagle reports. Planned Parenthood attorney Pedro Irigonegarary said the loss of funding would negatively impact "a large number of innocent people." He added that the group "is about family values. They have taken those two words from us and now it's time to take them back." According to the AP/Eagle, Planned Parenthood said the state funding is given to its Ellis and Sedgwick county clinics, which do not perform abortions. The group also noted that no state funds are used for abortion procedures performed at its clinics in Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City.

The governor's office said that Parkinson intends to act on the bill sometime this week, although he will not announce what action he will take on any legislation in advance. Parkinson has said that he holds "very similar" views on abortion rights as Sebelius, who supports such rights. However, he has yet to act on any bills regarding abortion, the AP/Eagle reports. Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, said that the group is asking members to contact legislators and the governor's office in support of retaining the measure. The AP/Eagle reports that if Parkinson vetoes the measure, lawmakers could attempt to override it (Manning, AP/Wichita Eagle, 5/19).


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