. . . and to Family Planning

Gov. George Deukmejian’s deletion of $24.1 million from the budget for family planning, the deepest cut allowed by law, will mean personal emergencies for many who rely on such services.

Overriding a veto always is difficult these days but unless that happens, 35 private, nonprofit family planning clinics may close in Los Angeles alone. Family planning specialists warn that there will be 65,000 more pregnancies and 35,000 more abortions throughout the state next year than there would have been with the budgeted level of family-planning services. If the Legislature cannot override, it surely must pass emergency funding.

The governor says that family planning should be financed privately. But the high cost of health care, education and other programs for unwanted children makes family-planning education a very public matter. The millions the governor cut from the budget represent too much money to raise privately on short notice. Deukmejian also has told some family-planning workers that the huge number of teen-age pregnancies in California proves that the programs don’t work. Under that logic, they would shut down fire stations every time the number of fires increased. The Legislature must restore logic and humanity to the debate.