CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is throwing his public support behind legislative efforts to investigate Planned Parenthood in West Virginia in the wake of questions about the organization’s alleged involvement in sales of fetal tissue.
“I think in light of all of the allegations and the facts that have been coming out about the possibility of Planned Parenthood selling fetal organs and tissue in violation of federal law, that this is not the type of organization that West Virginia taxpayer money should be spent on,” Morrisey said.
The state debate on funding for Planned Parenthood, following the publicity surrounding hidden camera videos, echoes a similar debate that continues on Capitol Hill.
West Virginia’s legislative leaders are currently waiting on more details from the state Department of Health and Human Resources on exactly how state money for Planned Parenthood, which has one West Virginia facility located in Vienna, was spent.
Preliminary information from DHHR indicated $66,000 out of $2.4 million in federal funds from a Title X federal block grant was provided to the Wood County site during the past year.
That money was for cervical cancer screenings, breast cancer screenings, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and family planning services, according to Karen Bowling, DHHR secretary, who noted Planned Parenthood does not provide abortions in West Virginia.
Additionally, DHHR allocated $800,000 total for the purchase of bulk supplies for an estimated 150 provider sites in West Virginia that offer family planning services.
Morrisey admitted the funding issue is matter for the Legislature, but said, “We thought it was important to step in, weigh in and make sure people know all the facts pertaining to these issues,” he said. “With a lot of these debates, it’s just important that people are educated.”
On Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” Morrisey pointed to investigations in other states that found alleged violations of state law on the part of Planned Parenthood.
“There are many other trusted options that provide women’s health services across our state besides Planned Parenthood,” Morrisey has said.
Officials with Planned Parenthood have called the controversial videos “heavily edited.”
In a statement, Paige Johnson, vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic which covers West Virginia, accused Morrisey and others of pushing a “political agenda.”
“From the beginning, these attacks on Planned Parenthood and the care we provide have been about one thing — banning safe and legal abortion and smearing Planned Parenthood’s trusted name,” Johnson said.
“Planned Parenthood in West Virginia does not participate in fetal tissue donation, nor does it provide abortion services, underscoring the purely political motivation behind the Speaker’s letter to DHHR last week, and the Attorney General’s subsequent support.”