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Testimony-of-Leslie-Wolfgang-Appropriations

You can watch Leslie Wolfgang’s August 7 testimony here . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iD7lOvGeCk&t=7386s.

Testimony of Leslie Wolfgang, Director of Public Policy, Family Institute of Connecticut

August 7, 2025, Appropriations, Human Services, and Public Health Committees Public Hearing re Block Grant Allocation Plans, Connecticut General Assembly.

I am testifying today against the inclusion of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England in the Block Grant Allocation Plan for 2026.

Planned Parenthood should not receive these funds for a few different reasons.  Obviously, as a representative from the Family Institute of Connecticut Action, I am concerned about the killing of unborn children. There is nothing more important than a child.  And abortion in Connecticut disproportionately affects black and hispanic families. Black and Hispanic people accounted for 57% of abortions in Connecticut but only accounted for 19% of the overall population.

That would be reason enough to refuse funding. But Planned Parenthood of Southern New England doesn’t need our money.  According to their 2023 990 filing, they have an endowment of $49.5 million.  A public charity with almost $50 million in the bank.  95% of that endowment is unrestricted and can be used for the services set forth in this grant. This block grant proposal gives an additional $1,424,718 to Planned Parenthood.  They have already received $6.3 million though this legislature in the past 12 months, including $3 million of emergency COVID funds that should have been used to reduce electric rates, not pad Planned Parenthood’s bottom line.  
And are they even doing a good job in Connecticut?  A New York Times exposed poor care including botched abortions and more. Connecticut is making choices among a variety of issues and nonprofits, and we should not be funding Planned Parenthood again when they have so much more than others.