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Thousands show opposition after Gov’s decision to halt funding to Planned Parenthood

Posted at 9:24 PM, Aug 17, 2015
and last updated 2015-08-18 08:54:53-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- A growing voice online is working to oppose Gov. Gary Herbert’s decision to halt funding to Planned Parenthood.

“It’s a good amount of people and it only started about three days ago, so it’s a large amount of people in a short amount of time,” said Brooks Bergmann, Founder of the Facebook page Planned Parenthood Advocacy Group.

More than 2,600 people joined the group in the first three days. Bergmann and a team of volunteers are using the momentum to plan a rally on the Capitol steps on August 25.

“We’re hoping that this energy is something that is going to continue to build and we hope that we’ll have a large turnout,” Bergmann said.

Herbert ordered the State Health Department to stop passing through federal funds after videos, made in secret by an anti-abortion group, show Planned Parenthood physicians discussing the sale of fetal tissue.

“You know they colored outside the lines and people should be very concerned about the selling of fetal body parts for money,” Herbert said.

Utah passes through roughly $200,000 for sex education programs and STD screening and reporting projects.

“To attach these to abortion just boggles the mind. Obviously sex education and fertility prevention are not high priorities for Governor Herbert,” said Karrie Galloway, CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.

Herbert said the money will be passed on to other groups in Utah to provide the same services.

“He’s very cavalier with the federal government’s money, I think.  He, as the State of Utah, offered to steward this money and he’s breaking his commitment,” Galloway said.

However, the governor may indeed have the right to cut off the flow of money.

“We have a mechanism in state contracts that allows us to terminate contracts with 30 days’ notice,” said Tom Hudachko, a spokesman for the Utah Health Department.

While the 30-day notice clock continues to tick, come Utahns are showing their anger over Gov. Herbert’s decision with a click. The Facebook group Planned Parenthood Advocacy Group continues to grow.

See the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/449600691831756/?fref=nf