Governor Mark Dayton Defends Family Planning Program

In defense of Minnesota’s women and families, Governor Dayton today vetoed the proposed Health and Human Services budget – a budget that would have slashed the state’s family planning funding program by half.

“At every turn, the new House and Senate majorities sought to make life more difficult for Minnesota women, especially those living paycheck to paycheck,” said Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.

The state’s Family Planning Special Services (FPSP) program, established 30 years ago, was designed to remove barriers to care based on poverty, lack of insurance, race, ethnicity age or culture. Last year it provided family planning care and information to tens of thousands of Minnesotans. Planned Parenthood has 18 FPSP-supported clinics, three in the metro area and 15 in rural Minnesota.

FPSP also funds education and outreach initiatives that reach men and women living in communities that experience high levels of health disparities, including poor prenatal care and low birth weight babies. 

Public support of family planning services provides much-needed access and saves money: Every $1 spent now on preventing an unintended pregnancy saves more than $4 in Medicaid charges down the road.

In his decision to veto the budget proposal, Gov. Dayton said, “cutting family planning grants in half severely limits access to primary and reproductive care for women.”

“We’re very proud of our governor,” said Stoesz, “and grateful for his willingness to stand up to any attempts to play politics with the health and wellbeing of Minnesota women and families.”

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