Colorado Governor, Bill Ritter to restore funding for Planned Parenthood

Colorado's New Gov Ritter Wants to Restore Planned Parenthood Funds

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 7, 2006

Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- Bill Ritter campaigned as a candidate opposed to abortions against a pro-life Rep. Bob Beauprez. Colorado voters chose Ritter and some may regret their decision because he announced Thursday he intends to restore state taxpayer funding to the nation's largest abortion business.

Ritter told the Associated Press in an interview that, after he takes office in January, he intends to pursue restoring funding for Planned Parenthood.

The state legislature cut the pro-abortion group's funding in 2001 after lawmakers pointed out that it was using the money to subsidize abortions.

Ritter said Planned Parenthood would have to keep the money, intended for sex education programs, separate from its abortion activities. However, pro-life advocates argue the taxpayer grants merely free up funds for abortions the agency would otherwise use on family planning efforts.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains came under fire in June for a plan to give away free morning after pills to mark its opposition to a measure Gov. Bill Owens vetoed that would have allowed women to get the Plan B drug without a prescription.

PPRM gave away the drug free at its 25 locations across the state.

The Food and Drug Administration eventually approved over the counter sales in August.

The group also upset pro-life advocates in February when it lobbied lawmakers to defeat legislation that would have protected pregnant women and their babies before birth by allowing criminals who assault them and kill or injure their child to be prosecuted for two crimes.

Kate Horle, vice president for public affairs at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, testified against the bill.

In October 2003, Colorado prosecutors were upset that they could not charge a man in the death of an unborn child because the state has no law that allows prosecutors to hold him responsible.

Daniel Self, 46, was charged with killing a pregnant woman but couldn't be charged in the death of her unborn son. At a hearing, District Judge Gil Martinez dismissed a charge of child abuse resulting in death.

Leah Gee, Self's girlfriend, died two days after she was shot and her son was delivered by doctors via Caesarian section. He died two weeks later form complications.

** Forward this story to everyone you know and encourage them to speak out against this funding. Write a letter, send an e-mail or fax, call Gov. Ritter and tell him this is unacceptable!

Mail
Bill Ritter, Governor
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792

Phone
(303) 866-2471

Fax
(303) 866-2003

E-mail
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