Radical Elimination of Pennsylvania Pregnant Women’s Program

Planned Parenthood leaders met with newly sworn in Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, on Jan. 19, 2023. Left to right: Sydney Etheredge, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western PA; Dayle Steinberg, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA; Gov. Josh Shapiro; Melissa Reed, CEO Planned Parenthood Keystone; Signe Espinoza, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood PA Advocates. (Courtesy Planned Parenthood)

Background

Governor Shapiro, during Commonwealth Budget negotiations, agreed with the Republican Senate to retain the budget line item that funded the award-winning Pennsylvania Pregnancy and Parenting Support Services Program ever since the time it was started by Governor Robert Casey in 1995.  He signed the FY 23-24 Commonwealth Budget that actually included a $2 million increase in the Program’s funding to $9 million. Governor Shapiro then refused to renew the Program’s contract thus ending the life-affirming Program that served over 354,000 women in 28 years.  Governor Shapiro used the $9 million originally earmarked for the Program to create a brand-new program that funds pro-abortion non-profits.  Real Alternatives detailed response can be viewed here. The responses by others are below: