At a Penn reunion for the 1967 graduating class, dozens of alumni protested against classmate and 1968 Wharton graduate Donald Trump, pictured above, urging Penn to "Denounce Trump."
Credit: Julio SosaPlanned Parenthood is safe in Pennsylvania — for now.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania will not be affected by a new law signed by the Trump administration to defund organizations that provide abortions.
Part of Pennsylvania’s "immunity" comes from the state’s allocation of money to family-planning care for low-income residents.
This new law, which was signed on April 13, rescinds Obama-era rules that protect Title X — a federal grant program which covers cancer screenings, birth control and sexual health care.
In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Title X funds are handled and distributed by independent nonprofit organizations rather than the state-run institutions.
While this law may lead to the shutdown of Planned Parenthood in other states, nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania have pledged to continue funding local branches of Planned Parenthood, the Inquirer reported.
Melissa Weiler-Gerber, the CEO of Access Matters — one of four nonprofits in Pennsylvania that distributes Title X funds in Philadelphia — spoke to the Inquirer about the importance of keeping Title X grants from the state-level political process.
“I think all of us recognize the importance of Planned Parenthood in our networks — they’re really important players across the state and nation,” Weiler-Gerber said to the Inquirer. “The real concern is in states where the issue has become politicized and where the Title X grant is held in a state Department of Health.”
Meanwhile, GOP congressional leaders and local pro-life groups have praised Trump’s recent actions, reported the Morning Call.
“This vitally important law offers states the ability to shift tax funding to facilities that can provide the best quality health care for women, rather than an organization mired in controversy, such as Planned Parenthood,” Maria Gallagher, the legislative director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, said.
CEO of Planned Parenthood’s Southeastern Pennsylvania branch Dayle Steinberg said Pennsylvania residents can “rest assured” that Access Matters will not discriminate against Planned Parenthood in their allocation of funds — for now.
“This definitely won’t be the last attempt to eliminate Title X funding,” Steinberg said. “Any attack on Planned Parenthood is an attack on the patients we serve.”
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