Dan Lipinski Is Lying About Planned Parenthood and His Constituents Aren't Having It

Rep. Dan Lipinski (IL-3) blatantly lied about Planned Parenthood's services at a town hall earlier this year when he said a "Planned Parenthood's is largely about abortions." His lies were met with boos from his constituents, including one woman who yelled, "This is not true. It's reproductive health services."

FACT: Planned Parenthood is one of the nation's leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, and the nation's largest provider of sex education. One in five women have relied on a Planned Parenthood health center for care in her lifetime. When Rep. Lipinski said that "Planned Parenthood is largely about abortion" (2:08 mark of this video), he was flat-out lying to his constituents.

FACT: First of all, no federal funding goes toward abortion. Planned Parenthood receives Medicaid reimbursements, just like hospitals and other health care organizations, for providing preventive care. Planned Parenthood does receive Medicaid reimbursements from services provided. That helps Planned Parenthood health centers see 2.4 million patients, who collectively receive 9.5 million services.

• Around 615,000 Pap tests & breast exams
• 2.8 million birth control services
• More than 4.2 million STI & HIV tests and treatments

FACT: The majority of Planned Parenthood's work is preventive care such as birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment. Planned Parenthood health centers are also proud to provide access to safe and legal abortion. Below is a percentage breakdown of services (national numbers):

• STI Testing and Treatment: 45%
• Contraception: 30%
• Other Women's Health Services: 14%
• Cancer Screening and Prevention: 7%
• Abortion Services: 3%
• Other Services: 1%

Rep. Lipinski has also claimed Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) can replace Planned Parenthood, a claim that has been refuted by health experts including the executive director of the American Public Health Association who called such claims "ludicrous." And recently the Washington Post wrote an in depth piece refuting Walberg's lies. Yet, he continues to repeat them.

When asked for a list of providers in his district he presented a list of 10 addresses, no names of providers or organizations. The list contained a dentist office, administrative facility, family medicine centers (no women's health option), and offices with limited family planning services.