Rep. Elmer: $7M emergency funds for Planned Parenthood?

House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer Condemns Democrats’ Decision to Use $7.5 Million in Emergency Funding for Planned Parenthood
By Oregon State House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer,

SALEM, Ore. — Today, House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville) condemned the decision by Democrat lawmakers to use $7.5 million from the Emergency Fund for the Oregon Health Authority to fund Planned Parenthood facilities.

Democrats argue the decision was necessary in lieu of federal Medicaid funds no longer available to fund Planned Parenthood until at least July 2026 per President Trump’s House Resolution 1. However, Oregon does not face a gap in access to reproductive health care services without its Planned Parenthood affiliates. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide all non-abortion reproductive health care services Planned Parenthood claims, with 270 locations across the state.

Further, taxpayers funded 81% of Oregon abortions from 2021-2025 – a nearly 80% increase from 2013-2015, in which taxpayers funded 45% of Oregon abortions – despite a recent poll showing that 53% of taxpayers oppose their dollars being used for abortion.

“Given the availability and access to other clinics that provide reproductive health care services and Oregon’s strained financial climate, using emergency funding for Planned Parenthood is neither urgent nor necessary,” said Leader Elmer. “We need to stop the political posturing and get back to listening to what Oregonians want – and use their tax dollars accordingly.”