Tell the Legislature: Don't Wait to Fix Family Planning!

Despite over 25,000 contacts to legislators by constituents and people just like you who support family planning funding, the nearly final budget proposal released by the House today cuts state-only family planning funds by 10% in year one and ELIMINATES them in year two.

Tell legislators NOW that the final budget they’ll adopt in the next few days MUST include Department of Health family planning funding for BOTH years of the State budget, at a total of $9 million.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to urge you to make sure the final budget includes Department of Health family planning funding for BOTH years of the State budget, for a total of $9 million.

It is totally unreasonable to believe that, in 8 months, the federal government will solve the family planning crisis that has been going on for four years. It will cost Washington taxpayers $19 million per year in unintended pregnancy costs if family planning services aren't funded in the second year of the budget AND 20,000 people in our state will lose access to basic health services.

Please do everything you can to ensure at least $9 million for family planning is retained in the final budget.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 24, 2009


Background Information

The 10% cut to family planning will be difficult for both patients and providers to withstand, but the final budget proposed by the House poses a nearly unimaginable risk to Washington’s citizens and its budget:

  • 20,000 people will lose access to basic health services
  • taxpayers will have to pay nearly $19 million per year in new state-funded unintended pregnancy care costs