Davis Credits Gore for State’s Grant Windfall

Lending a political hand to his friend the vice president, Gov. Gray Davis announced Wednesday that Al Gore intervened to help California land a $900-million grant for a variety of family planning and contraception programs.

In a news conference, the Democratic governor made a point of touting Gore’s role in helping the state get the money, to be spread over the next five years. The first installment, $173 million, is to arrive this month.

Davis said he hopes the announcement will boost Gore’s presidential candidacy, which he has endorsed, in California--a must-win state for a Democratic presidential contender.

“[Gore] has worked long and hard for this state. I’d like to believe that good policy makes good politics, but that remains to be seen,” Davis said.

Davis went to Washington in February, a month after his inauguration, and appealed to the Clinton administration for money to help pay for prisons, roads, schools and health care in California.

Although neither Davis nor the Clinton administration publicizes instances when money is denied, they will almost certainly herald occasions when Washington comes through between now and the March primary election.

“This is not the first time [Gore] has come to our assistance, and it probably won’t be the last,” Davis said.

Former Gov. Pete Wilson in 1997 began the so-called Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment program, offering family planning services to working adults whose family income is less than $33,000.

Those adults can receive contraceptives, sterilization, screening for breast and cervical cancer and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. The state must provide 10% of the money for most services. The new funds will increase the number of people the program can serve.

Davis spokesman Michael Bustamante said the money cannot be used for abortions. The state pays for abortions for poor women through its Medi-Cal program.

Family planning money has been the focus of continuing battles in the Legislature.

On Wednesday, Assemblyman George Runner Jr. (R-Lancaster), the Assembly’s lead Republican on budget matters, criticized Davis and Democrats for not seeking federal grants specifically aimed at teaching children about abstinence. Runner also opposes using government family planning funds at public schools unless parents approve.

“We are most particularly concerned when that money is used to expand programs at high school campuses, where family planning is done without parental consent,” Runner said.