On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee held an extensive hearing on funding for Planned Parenthood, with the organization’s president and CEO Cecile Richards as the witness.
Since then, the committee, in addition to releasing videos of the hearing, has released takeaways.
From the committee’s hearing wrap-up:
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Planned Parenthood does not need federal subsidies.
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Planned Parenthood is self-sustaining.
Reported revenue of $1.3 billion in their most recent annual report.
Reported $127 million in net income and reported holding $1.4 billion in assets for 2013-2014. -
Salaries at Planned Parenthood are lucrative.
President Cecile Richards was paid more than $2.47 million from 2009 to 2013, including $590,928 in 2013.
A significant number of Planned Parenthood executives earn in excess of $200,000 annually. -
Planned Parenthood spends millions on travel, galas and real estate.
Spends nearly $14,000 a day on travel.
Spent $34.8 million in 2011 to purchase corporate office space two blocks from Madison Square Garden. -
Taxpayer dollars subsidize Planned Parenthood’s political affiliates.
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Planned Parenthood’s claim that only “three percent” of all health services provided are abortion services is false.
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Over the last decade, cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood are declining while abortions are increasing.
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Numerous alternatives to Planned Parenthood exist.
During the course of the hearing, Richards was asked many questions about the relevant takeaways. She was frequently unable to provide adequate answers about her organization.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Chaffetz requested follow-up on several key issues:
- Name and number of affiliates receiving majority of revenue from abortion services
- Amount of revenue by affiliates for abortion services
- Which affiliates provide which services
- Names of organizations and countries Planned Parenthood gives funds to overseas
- Duties performed and compensation received by Planned Parenthood Action Fund employees, if shared services and employees
- Cost of reimbursement for contraception and abortion
- Travel cost breakdown explanation
- List of political organizations Planned Parenthood collaborates with
- Political donations to Democrats and Republicans
As the very first takeaway states, Planned Parenthood does not need federal subsidies. It is self-sustaining, though that is not the only reason it does not need such funds. Not only do taxpayer dollars subsidize Planned Parenthood’s political affiliates, but they do so in a partisan manner.
Richards admitted to Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) that health care and lobbying “go hand in hand,” when asked by Mulvaney whether “actually providing women’s health care services or lobbying” were more important to her.
Claims were made throughout the hearing that Planned Parenthood only funded Democrats. While Richards did mention that her organization gives money to Republicans, she refused to name any names when asked by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.).
What is next then for an organization that does not deserve its funding? The House of Representatives and Senate have both voted several times to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider, something Richards herself did not know.
Cecile Richards and President Obama have a seemly cozy relationship. Richards, Planned Parenthood board members, and senior staff have visited the White House a total of 151 times. Obama also became the first sitting president to address the group and has promised to veto any defunding bills.
The House Oversight Committee did commendable work to get to the heart of the matter during a five hour hearing in which its witness provided very little details. The takeaways reflect that Planned Parenthood neither needs nor deserves federal dollars.
