Indiana and Kentucky Targeted For Abortion Expansion Through Planned Parenthood Merger With Western States Group

Millions in out of state funds will attempt to influence Indiana abortion policies

by Dave Andrusko, National Right-to-Life News, February 1, 2019

The Louisville Journal-Courier today reported that “Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky is joining forces with its far larger and richer counterpart that serves the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii”:

The CEO of the combined alliance said it will have more money and legal muscle to fight “unrelenting attempts to undo constitutionally protected rights.”

The alliance will have a combined annual budget of as much as $90 million and serve 164,000 patients at 45 health centers in six states.

Chris Charbonneau, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands (and now Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky), said the merger is part of a conscious effort of affiliates in blue states to help patients and organizations in states that are less hospitable to reproductive freedom.

The Planned Parenthood merger “places a target on unborn children in Indiana and Kentucky by bringing in millions of dollars from far away states to influence policy and expand abortions,” said Indiana Right to Life President and CEO Mike Fichter. “The merger directly connects Indiana’s Planned Parenthood abortion clinics to dozens of abortion clinics operating in Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii, responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of unborn children each year through their lucrative abortion operations.”

Fichter observed that “Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky’s customer base has been steadily eroding over the past five years in almost every area except abortions. We believe this merger underscores Planned Parenthood’s intent to expand abortions which are central to its revenue stream.”