The Gag Rule in Minnesota
Over the past three decades, there have been many attempts to enforce a "gag rule" on publicly funded state, federal and international family planning programs. In Minnesota, the term "gag rule" refers to a range of unconstitutional legislative actions prohibiting organizations that receive state family planning special projects (FPSP) grant funds from mentioning abortion as an option in their full range of reproductive health options.
Anti-choice special interest groups use the gag rule to deplete the resources of family planning clinics.
When FPSP was first enacted into law in Minnesota in 1978, an original gag rule stipulation was declared unconstitutional under Planned Parenthood of Minnesota v. The State of Minnesota (1979).
While Minnesota's Concerned Citizens for Life (MCCL) introduces a similar gag rule every year, the Minnesota Legislature has consistently refused to pass this legislation. In fact, a number of pro-life senators assisted Planned Parenthood in its defeat of the last serious attempt to impose a gag rule on family planning funds. The rule, introduced in 2007, didn't have enough support for a hearing. Thus the anti-choice adopted an amendment strategy, attaching a gag rule on to a family planning bill.
This latest gag rule amendment is a new twist -it attempts to amend a state law that was overturned in federal court. This tactic is a blatant attempt to use the courts to get around the legislative process. Planned Parenthood opposes the gag rule because it is blatantly unconstitutional and not supported by the medical community, it also is not reflective of Minnesota's values.
In the past, some anti-choice groups claim that taxpayer money goes to funding abortions. This is not the case. Family planning grant funds are not used to provide abortion services or direct referrals for abortion services and have never been used in this way. They are used help prevent unwanted pregnancies and help women's health needs.
This gag rule would create an unethical environment for the state's entire family planning system. Planned Parenthood is not the primary recipient of state FPSP funds-in fact, four out of every five family planning dollars go to providers other than Planned Parenthood. This gag rule will undermine the doctor/patient relationship for providers who work with local public health departments, tribal governments and numerous nonprofit organizations. It also denies a women access to her constitutional rights to reproductive choice.
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