Is Mary Beliveau a Double Agent?

TO: Pro-Life Leaders
FROM: State Representative Daryl D. Metcalfe
DATE: May 25, 2006
RE: Mary Beliveau Memo "Setting the Record Straight" It has recently come to my attention that Mary Beliveau, Legislative Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, released a memo criticizing my introduction of an amendment to the state budget that would have de-funded Planned Parenthood of state money. De-funding Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortion services inthe United States, is an issue that should have been used to strengthen and unify the pro-life movement in Pennsylvania. It is an understatement to say that I am disappointed that Ms. Beliveau has chosen to use the subject of my amendment to divide the pro-life community. I agree that the issue of funding for Planned Parenthood is complex. As a state legislator, charged with the duty of appropriating state funds to many departments, agencies and programs, I felt compelled to introduce anamendment that take away all *state* money from Planned Parenthood. While my ultimate desire is to see Planned Parenthood fully de-funded of all state and federal tax dollars, I felt it necessary to begin where I had the most influence - within the state budget process. My amendment (A. 06491) read: *This amendment eliminates the language and state funding for half of theExpanded Medical Services appropriation. * * * *The resulting $4.430 million is used to increase the Maternal and ChildHealth state appropriation in the Department of Health. The maternal andchild Health appropriation will increase from $2.090 million to $6.520million.* *This appropriation supports a wide range of maternal and child healthprograms to address better pregnancy outcomes and the importance of primary care services and services through infancy.* * * Specifically, my amendment reduced the state appropriation for ExpandedMedical Services by eliminating funding for expanded medical services forlow-income women. According to contract information for the PA Departmentof Public Welfare (DPW), these dollars are allocated to the family healthcouncils, which subcontract with other entities to provide for these services - which includes, but is not limited to, Planned Parenthood. My amendment added this money to the state appropriation for the Maternal and Child Health Fund, which supports a broad range of maternal and infant health programs to address the needs of socioeconomically impoverished womenand adolescents who have limited access to and delays in seeking prenatalcare, including environmental lead assessment/child lead poisoning prevention and newborn screening. It is important to note that, although my amendment failed, the vote was 106-92, indicating a significant gain from the last time a similar amendmentran. While Planned Parenthood and many of my legislative colleagues whorefused to support my amendment would lead you to believe that the expanded medical services for low income women line item is about promoting women's health, I, and many other pro-life Pennsylvanians, believe that women will be much healthier when we de-fund Planned Parenthood and its radicalanti-family agenda. ================================Amy J. Dohner, Legislative Assistant Representative Daryl D. Metcalfe 12th Legislative District 150B East Wing 717-783-1707 717-787-4771 (fax)