.........to Sign Bill Resulting in $3.2 million Increase for "Family Planning Services.”

CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC DAILY

Planned Parenthood affiliates across California have geared up their PR machines once again, this time in an effort to persuade Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a bill that could result in the state spending another $3.2 million a year on “family planning services.”

Planned Parenthood, whose California affiliates typically end each fiscal year with budget surpluses in the millions, want the governor to sign SB-94, sponsored by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles. The bill, which would increase Medi-Cal rates for “family planning,” passed the legislature with the support of only one Republican. It was sent to the governor on Sept. 19, who has until Oct. 14 to either sign or veto the measure.

A source inside the Schwarzenegger administration told California Catholic Daily earlier this week that the governor has yet to make up his mind on whether to sign or veto the bill.

Planned Parenthood lost an earlier legislative battle that would have increased Medi-Cal rates across the board at an estimated annual cost of $24 million. Now Planned Parenthood has set its sights on a more modest goal -- getting the governor to sign SB-94.

Planned Parenthood activists have called a “Rally to Urge the Governor to Sign SB 94” on Oct. 2 outside the governor’s San Francisco office. “It’s Time to Act! You Can Help Increase Access to Family Planning,” says an announcement of the rally. “Thanks to the support and mobilization of thousands of Planned Parenthood activists like you throughout the state, the California legislature overwhelmingly passed SB 94, a critical piece of legislation that would increase reimbursement rates for vital family planning services and increase access to time-sensitive care for low-income women throughout the state.”......CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE........