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Funding

Planned Parenthood has received federal funding since 1970, when President Richard Nixon signed into law the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act, amending the Public Health Service Act. Title X of that law provides funding for family planning services, including contraception and family planning information. The law had bipartisan support from liberals, who saw contraception access as increasing families' control over their lives,[citation needed] and conservatives who saw it as a way to keep people off welfare.[citation needed] Nixon described Title X funding as based on the premise that "no American woman should be denied access to family planning assistance because of her economic condition."[55]

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, total (consolidated) revenue was $201 million: clinic revenue totaling $2 million, grants and donations of $190 million, investment income of $2 million, and $7 million other income.[56] Approximately two-thirds of the revenue is put towards the provision of health services, while non-medical services such as sex education and public policy work make up another 16%; management expenses, fundraising, and international family planning programs account for most of the rest.[citation needed]

Planned Parenthood receives about a third of its money in government grants and contracts (about $360 million in 2009).[54] By law, federal funding cannot be allocated for abortions,[57] but some opponents of abortion have argued that allocating money to Planned Parenthood for the provision of other medical services "frees up" funds to be re-allocated for abortion.[52][58]

A coalition of national and local pro-life groups have lobbied federal and state governments to stop funding Planned Parenthood. As a result, federal and state legislators have proposed legislation to reduce funding levels.[57][59] Six states have gone ahead with such proposals.[52][60][61][62] In some cases, the courts have overturned such actions, citing conflict with federal or other state laws, and in others, the federal executive branch has provided funding in lieu of the states.[61][62][63] In other cases, complete or partial defunding of Planned Parenthood has gone through successfully.[64][65] Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has attempted to sever the contract with Planned Parenthood in his state (where no abortions are provided), at a time when there is an epidemic of syphilis in New Orleans, and where Louisiana ranks first among the states in cases of gonorrhea, second in chlamydia, and third in syphilis and HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[66] Planned Parenthood clinics in Louisiana last year administered approximately 20,000 tests for these infections, and provided gynecological examinations, contraceptives, screening for cancer, and other services for nearly 10,000 mostly low-income patients, and there is insufficient access to medical care for the people who now can't be seen at Planned Parenthood clinics.[66] Planned Parenthood and three patients are suing Louisiana, with the US Justice Department siding with Planned Parenthood.[67]

Planned Parenthood is also funded by private donors, with a membership base of over 700,000 active donors, whose contributions account for approximately one quarter of the organization's revenue.[68] Large donors also contribute a substantial portion of the organization's budget. Past donors have included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Buffett Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Turner Foundation, the Cullmans, and others.[69][70][71][72] The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's contributions to the organization have been specifically marked to avoid funding abortions.[69] Some, such as the Buffett Foundation, have supported reproductive health that can include abortion services.[69] Pro-life groups have advocated the boycott of donors to Planned Parenthood.[73]

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee used Tuesday's emotionally charged hearing to critique the organization on everything from revenue, to abortion care, to corporate-travel spending, to Richards' personal salary. The line of questioning infuriated some Democrats.

"The disrespect, the misogyny, rampant here today tells us what is really going on here," said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia).

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the chair of the House Oversight Committee, contended that Planned Parenthood doesn't need federal funding. He briefly teared up while talking about the death of his parents, which Chaffetz implied may have been prevented if the federal government spent more on cancer-prevention research.

Chaffetz dedicated some of his time to questioning Richards' salary, which he pointed out rose by $100,000 over four years.