Orange County rejects Planned Parenthood tobacco funding bid

Jun 2, 2009 / 17:45 pm

The health department of Orange County has rejected a Planned Parenthood affiliate’s application to open a breast care clinic for the uninsured using tobacco settlement grant money.

Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino counties was one of 19 local community clinics which had applied for a portion of about $4.5 million in available grant money.

Health department staff told Planned Parenthood that its proposal does not qualify under new rules requiring all the money to be spent on direct clinical care, the California Catholic Daily reports.

Planned Parenthood CEO Jon Dunn on Wednesday said he believes Planned Parenthood is being singled out.

“All of these restrictions being placed on funds were clearly aimed at us and services we provide,” Dunn said. “Now they're trying to create new restrictions and rules.”

Lisa Wolter, executive director of the Orange County affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation also expressed disappointment.

County supervisors had voted unanimously to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, with some expressing concern the money could be used to pay for abortions, the Orange County Register says.

A later review confirmed that Planned Parenthood was using its grant to provide sex education to teens and preteens but not abortion services.

Following the advice of legal counsel, supervisors reinstated Planned Parenthood’s funding and implemented the new restrictions on future grants.