Conservative Va. Group Announces 2006 Legislative Agenda
The Family Foundation of Virginia on Wednesday announced that it will advocate for elimination of state funding for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia programs, which includes funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and education, the AP/Newport News Daily Press reports (Walker, AP/Newport News Daily Press, 1/4). The foundation in January 2004 also called on state lawmakers to eliminate public funding for PPAV (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/14/04). According to a Freedom of Information Act request by the foundation, Planned Parenthood branches in Virginia received more than $300,000 from Virginia between 2000 and 2004, most of which went toward HIV/AIDS prevention and education and teen pregnancy prevention (AP/Newport News Daily Press, 1/4). The group also plans to advocate for a requirement that state health agencies notify parents if their child receives contraception or medical attention for a sexually transmitted disease (Stallsmith, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1/5). Victoria Cobb, executive director of the foundation, said changes this year to the state Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee might favor the group's agenda (Washington Times, 1/5). The foundation -- which is one of the oldest and largest conservative groups in the state -- announced the proposals one week before the state General Assembly convenes (AP/Newport News Daily Press, 1/4).
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