Last week the Wisconsin State Legislature passed a compromise State Budget that once again allocated $2 million a year of your tax dollars to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, the number one abortion provider in the state and the nation. In addition to that, the Legislature expanded the Family Planning Medicaid Waiver Program from women aged 15-44 making less than $18,800 a year to those who make less than $20,000 a year. Because the parents’ income cannot be included in that figure, virtually every high school or college girl in Wisconsin is eligible for free birth control and counseling without their parent’s knowledge or consent! The largest financial beneficiary of this program? None other than Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

If you total the $2 million per year from the state’s general purpose revenue with the taxpayer dollars from the Family Planning program, this organization that proudly destroys the lives of innocent preborn babies is receiving over $6 million annually from Wisconsin tax payers. In 2006, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin reported a total revenue of over $22 million and a profit in excess of $1.5 million. They have made the horrible practice of killing human beings and polluting the minds and bodies of our young people a multi-million dollar, profitable business in our state.

Did you know that Planned Parenthood has 30 affiliated clinics in Wisconsin? Twenty-seven of those clinics offer what Planned Parenthood calls “a wide range of reproductive and primary health care services.” Three clinics offer abortions. Last year, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin reported that they had conducted 3,658 abortions. That’s over 38% of all the abortions reported in Wisconsin last year.

In a news release on the budget, Planned Parenthood Advocates, the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, praised the state Legislature for “passing a budget compromise…that preserves and enhances access to health care for women…” If Planned Parenthood were really concerned about women’s health, they would be open with women considering abortions about the emotional, psychological and physical consequences of abortion. Consider the following example.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Almost everyone is familiar with the pink ribbon and Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. What you might not know is that Planned Parenthood regularly receives funding from the Komen Foundation – ostensibly for breast cancer screenings. However, screenings have gone down and abortions have gone up in the past years at Planned Parenthood. In Milwaukee this year, the Komen Foundation is actually sponsoring sexuality education workshops conducted by a Planned Parenthood employee.

The problem with this cozy relationship is a scientifically proven risk factor known as the Abortion-Breast Cancer Link – or the ABC Link. In over 70 studies conducted since 1957, 80% found an increased risk for breast cancer in women who had at least one abortion. In fact, girls who have an abortion before age 18 more than double their risk for breast cancer! How can the life-saving work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure be affiliated with the life-destroying work of Planned Parenthood? Despite the evidence, Planned Parenthood and Susan G. Komen for the Cure continue to deceive women by denying the ABC Link.

Speaking of deception, perhaps you’ve heard of the developing case in Kansas involving Planned Parenthood of Overland Park. Kansas District Attorney Phill Kline has charged the clinic with 107 indictments, including late term abortions conducted in violation of Kansas state law. The indictments include 23 felony counts for false writing, 27 misdemeanor counts for failing to maintain records and 29 misdemeanor counts for failure to determine viability.

If this blatant disregard for human life, women’s health and state law is happening in one clinic in Kansas, it’s horrifying to think what might be taking place here in Wisconsin, and nationwide. This week, I proudly signed on to a letter sponsored by Concerned Women for America asking the U.S. Legislature to suspend the more than $300 million of federal funding received by Planned Parenthood until the Kansas case is settled. It’s time to make abortionists show this country what they are really doing with millions of tax-payers’ dollars they receive each year.

Now is the time to stand up for the sanctity of all human life, including the unborn. This fight is not over. The opposition is well funded and supported by a dogmatic, deceiving ideology of so-called women’s rights. As Christians, we must carry out our responsibility to affirm God-given life and do everything we can to protect the unborn. Stopping the flow of taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood would be an excellent beginning!

For Wisconsin Family Council, I’m Julaine Appling reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”