Restore Family Planning Funds

Gov. George Deukmejian has found in the state’s anticipated budget surplus money to finance a variety of health and welfare programs threatened with severe cuts. But he does not propose to restore funds to family planning services even though these modest expenditures save money on welfare costs in the long run. Among other things, the governor’s approach demonstrates a stubborn resistance to the reality of teen-age pregnancy. It helps condemn more youngsters to parenthood for which they are not yet ready. And it also penalizes immigrant women who are too poor to pay for care themselves. The Legislature and the public must work to overcome the governor’s resistance.

The Harbor Free Clinic in San Pedro is but one example of a public service that would be hard hit if Deukmejian has his way. The clinic staff sees about 40 patients a night. About 30% are teen-agers who come in to learn about family planning or sexually transmitted diseases or for pregnancy testing. Perhaps more important is the clinic’s extensive education program for area schools that reaches 11,000 young people a year. The clinic’s counselors help them understand that they can be involved with someone without being sexually involved and that delaying parenthood might be wise, giving them time to become better prepared to raise children.

The clinic would like to have more health educators at work in the community but it facesthe prospect of having none at all. If it loses its state money, it would lose federal money as well. Thus, two-thirds of its $300,000 annual budget is at stake. If the cuts go through, there would be no money after July to pay clinic administrator Donna Brown or its manager of 12 years, Alan Terwey, or health educators Dolores Bonilla-Clay or Marta Lagares. Nick Nomicos, another health educator, has already left for a job out of state.

The Deukmejian Administration backed an unsuccessful effort to kill the state law requiring the government to pay for family planning services. So the governor cannot eliminate all family planning money, but he could cut it to one-third its current level, that is, to $12 million. Los Angeles County alone receives $10 million a year, so it’s easy to see how devastating these deep cuts would be. A small but vital community program like the Harbor Free Clinic would have to close its doors as might 40 other local programs.

By announcing that there is money available for some programs but not all, the governor may hope to peel off some allies among the health and welfare community. Those groups that may get some money must not abandon those who will not, else the tactic will be used against them in the future. If the Legislature is to develop the will to overcome a potential gubernatorial veto of family planning money, it needs to hear from united allies, and it needs to hear soon.