Granite State Times

On Jan. 12, New Hampshire’s Executive Council voted for the third time to deny funding for the state’s family planning services organizations, such as Planned Parenthood.

According to Manchester-based ABC affiliate WMUR9, the Executive Council's four Republicans rejected the allocations while Councilor Cinde Warmington, the body’s sole Democrat, backed the contracts.

The 4-1 vote denies funding to the Equality Health Center, Joan G. Lovering Health Center and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

It was consistent with the Executive Council's previous two actions: a 4-1 vote against the same two-year contracts last month and a 4-1 vote last September to defund the health centers through December 31, 2021.

A state audit of the providers revealed that no taxpayer dollars are used to fund abortion, but the Executive Council's GOP members expressed dissatisfaction anyway. According to Republican Executive Councilor Dave Wheeler, acceptance of the funding is illegal per House Bill 2.

“All the information has been given, and it has proven that there is no misuse of funds, and yet they still vote no,” Warmington told WMUR9.

Kayla Montgomery, vice president for public affairs at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, criticized the four Republicans on the Executive Council for what she asserted was their failure to remedy the defunding of the providers, including the one she represents.

“Councilors Kenney, Stevens, Gatsas and Wheeler have now had two opportunities to fix their mistake but refuse to put their personal politics to the side to do what’s right for their constituents,” Montgomery said, according to the Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund. “This is yet another vote to dismantle the state family planning program, and it is irresponsible and will cause irreparable harm to our network of care. New Hampshire deserves better.”

Had the agreements been approved, a total of more than $1 million would’ve been apportioned among the three health centers.