Branstad orders review of Planned Parenthood funding in Iowa

Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday he has ordered state agencies to review government funding of Planned Parenthood programs in Iowa.

Branstad said Planned Parenthood does not receive a direct appropriation from the Iowa Legislature, and no government funds are used to pay for abortions in Iowa.

But Planned Parenthood in Iowa does receive some government funding including federal funds, that are channeled through the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Iowa Department of Public Health for non-abortion services, the governor said.

“We are to look at the contracts and see what our rights and responsibilities are. I want to protect the interests of the taxpayers,” said Branstad, who conducted his weekly news conference at the Iowa State Fair.

The governor spoke Saturday at the “Truth Exposed” anti-abortion rally at the Iowa Capitol that drew an estimated 1,000 people. The rally was prompted by videos released by anti-abortion activists that claim Planned Parenthood is breaking the law by selling aborted fetal tissue. Branstad on Monday described Planned Parenthood’s actions as “outrageous and inappropriate.”

Planned Parenthood has repeatedly said it is not doing anything illegal, and Branstad acknowledged Monday the controversial videos do not involve Planned Parenthood officials in Iowa.

Suzanna de Baca, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, issued a statement Monday which said the organization has been providing health care and education in Iowa for more than 80 years.

“We play a significant role in the community health network, providing high-quality and affordable care to nearly 38,000 women and men in Iowa each year. In addition, we are the pre-eminent provider of health and sexual health education programs in Iowa and each year we reach nearly 44,000 women, men and young people through more than 2,500 programs in schools, community health centers, correctional facilities, at health fairs and at other community outreach events,” de Baca said.

“As Governor Branstad reviews the contracts that fund these programs, we certainly hope he will also carefully consider the impact that these programs have had on reducing rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections in Iowa, as well as increasing access to family planning services like well-woman exams and contraception,” de Baca said.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, told a State Fair audience Saturday he believes Planned Parenthood officials should be prosecuted for criminal acts as a result of the information provided by the videos. But Branstad said Monday that any decision to prosecute Planned Parenthood in Iowa would be outside of his jurisdiction and would be up to the Iowa attorney general’s office.

Branstad said there is no specific timeline for the state review of Planned Parenthood funding, and he doesn’t know exactly how much government money the organization is receiving in Iowa. But he said there is a lot of interest in the issue by Iowa legislators.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has taken a lead role alongside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in an effort to defund Planned Parenthood at the federal level.

“As a mother and grandmother, I find this footage of Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies morally reprehensible and vile,” Ernst said in a statement released by her office.