Family Planning

Your editorial “Restore Family Planning Funds” (June 10) points out that despite the state’s budget surplus Gov. George Deukmejian still refuses to restore the funding of family planning services. This stubborn stance is difficult to reconcile with his other publicly stated positions.

First, as a fiscal conservative, he should appreciate the enormous savings in other social services provided by family planning--$6 saved for every $1 spent. As a foe of abortion, he should favor pregnancy prevention, the very purpose of family planning. In the face of such puzzling inconsistencies, one can’t help but wonder if there is some other, not publicly stated reason for the governor’s specific animosity toward family planning services. Can it be that like some Third World leaders, he believes that more population means more power?

ALISON FULLER

Altadena