Planned Parenthood Gets Fat on $3 million in “Leftovers” Without Debate:
Planned Parenthood Reaps Taxpayer Financed Windfall
The last three days of the legislative session was consumed by an effort to meet the financial needs of many nonprofits struggling to survive. Through good fortune, Governor Ned Lamont and legislative leaders decided to use $480 million in federal COVID relief funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
These funds were not subject to the normal state budget debate or votes. Leaders disbursed these funds to the University of Connecticut, towns, various local capital projects, and numerous nonprofit organizations. Some of those local projects included pickleball courts and an elevator for a public library. Sadly, legislators approved $3 million in no strings attached funding to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE). This allocation was squirreled away in a voluminous document (HB 5523) and voted upon hours later in the House and the next day in the Senate.
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England is Financially Strong - Endowment Fund Grew by 72 % from 2019 to 2023
The $3 million allocation was a political gift to the abortion giant. PPSNE had supported many other failed bills that expanded abortion policies and restricted Catholic healthcare.
What is truly troubling is PPSNE has a robust financial balance sheet while other nonprofits that support families continue to struggle and received the bare minimum.
Throughout the years PPSNE has consistently showed a solid financial position. An analysis of its filings to the IRS (Form 990) for the last several years, performed by the Conference, shows a nonprofit that is not in need of government assistance, but consistently cries poor to get state funding. The analysis of data from fiscal years 2019 through 2023 revealed several facts:
- Over the last five reporting years their endowment fund has grown by 72%. The fund has grown from $13 million in 2019 to $47 million in 2023. In 2023, the endowment fund earned $3.2 million in interest and dividends.
- Extremely large $23 million operating surplus in 2022 was moved to investments in public traded securities, instead of expanding care to clients and reducing fees. PPSNE has always sought more financial aid from the taxpayers when a current national event occurs. When President Trump restricted federal funding to abortion providers or when Roe v. Wade was overturned, PPSNE not only asked for more state tax dollars, but also wanted funding to assist women from other states to come to Connecticut for abortions. This past legislative session they were seeking changes to Medicaid to help them pay their abortion providers higher rates.
- Strong cash-on-hand position. Many struggling nonprofits can only wish they hand the $11 million of cash-on-hand that PPSNE had at the end of its 2022- 2023 fiscal year. This cash-on-hand amount was after they moved $23 million to public investments as mentioned above.
The Governor and Legislature should think twice before giving away the taxpayer’s money. Especially when the organization does not need the funding.
Providing $3 million as a political gift to an organization that is not in need, while other nonprofits and government programs struggle to keep their doors open, is a misuse of public funds and a betrayal to those who truly need special assistance. After HB 5523 was passed by both chambers with support by the Governor, there has been no public explanation for the generous allotment to PPSNE, even though $3 million does say a lot about the priorities of some of our leaders.