By Dr. Omar Hamada
NASHVILLE, August 24, 2015– Last Wednesday, members of the Tennessee General Assembly investigated Planned Parenthood at a special committee hearing.
Legislators wanted to know whether or not any of the state’s abortion providers are guilty of selling fetal tissue for profit. The Tennessee Department of Health informed these legislators that there was no way of knowing whether Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers had violated the law.
In essence, these organizations could very well be violating federal law right under our nose and no one would know the difference.
In April, in Tennessee’s House Health Committee, Rep. Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) asked Planned Parenthood of Tennessee whether or not they received taxpayer funds. One Planned Parenthood representative told Rep. Terry that Middle and East Tennessee Planned Parenthood received no public funds (Hour 2, Minute 17). Another Planned Parenthood representative told Rep. Terry that West Tennessee Planned Parenthood provided no-cost contraception, but never said whether or not they received public funds. Planned Parenthood lied.
As someone who has delivered more than 2,000 baby girls and boys, I am offended by the misleading rhetoric and lies that are designed to keep Tennessee tax-payers in the shadows.
Many legislators also continue to claim that Tennessee does not provide Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers any tax payer dollars. While these legislators likely have the best intentions and are not purposefully trying to mislead their constituents, this claim simply isn’t true.
I have been in close contact with Rep. Andy Holt (R-Dresden) who has been investigating the —