TEXAS ETHICS ADVISORY BOARD

Box 1016 Elkins Lake • Huntsville, TX 77340-8829 • 936-730-1555

August 9, 2010

Hon. Greg Abbott

Attorney General

State of Texas

PO Box 12548

Austin, TX 78711-2548

Dear General Abbott,

As you will know, the various Planned Parenthood Corporations in Texas, we believe to be twelve in all, receive Title X, XX and other funding, matched by funds from the Texas taxpayers pocket. You had ruled in some cases that particular Planned Parenthood Corporations are “governmental agencies”. (OR2010-03467 and OR2010-03427). After receiving more information and an appeal from Planned Parenthood of North Texas and Planned Parenthood of Houston, you then reversed your rulings. I had expanded my original requests to them to include records which could be used to determine whether Medicaid and other fraudulent activities are being perpetrated by them. Now that you have ruled they are not a “public agency”, I am asking you to independently undertake an investigation of the two Planned Parenthoods named above

Here is why we suspect Planned Parenthood:

“Planned Parenthood sues state in records dispute”

“Lynsay Clutter/Eyewitness News/WTHR.com, Indianapolis, Indiana

March 14 - A major tempest is brewing involving the Indiana Attorney General's Office and Planned Parenthood of Indiana. At issue is the confidentiality of certain records. And that has resulted in a suit by Planned Parenthood against the state of Indiana.

The controversy started with a letter from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, a division of the Attorney General's office. It notified Planned Parenthood it is under investigation for alleged abuse or neglect, saying it needed to hand over its medical records.”

Source: http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=3077298

“Extensive, organized fraud”

“Lawsuits allege Planned Parenthood ripped off taxpayers for more than $180 million, fired whistleblower

A former executive of Planned Parenthood-Los Angeles has filed a federal whistleblower’s lawsuit against all nine Planned Parenthood affiliates in California. The suit alleges the affiliates knowingly engaged in a criminal plot to fleece state and federal taxpayers out of more than $180 million over the course of at least six years.

Victor Gonzalez, former vice-president for finance and administration of Planned Parenthood-Los Angeles, secretly filed the lawsuit under the federal False Claims Act in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in 2005. The suit was unsealed earlier this week following a prolonged review by the U.S. attorney’s office. Gonzalez worked for Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles from Dec. 9, 2002 until he was abruptly fired on March 9, 2004. “

Source: California Catholic Daily, March 8, 2008 http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=8f6ee605-b0ce-43ff-9939-65759c594d14

“Abortion records reveal cases of suspected child rape, incest”

Kansas attorney general wins battle over files that may conceal felonies

Posted: November 02, 2006
1:00 am Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily.com

The attorney general in Kansas has won his courtroom battle over the medical records for dozens of abortions in his state, and says the documents appear to have concealed cases of child rape, illegal late-term abortion, rape by force or fear, incest, child sexual abuse and other crimes.

Attorney General Phil Kline had waged a months-long courtroom battle against the abortion industry, which sought to keep the 90 case records concealed. But the records now are being reviewed by investigators after being forwarded to Kline from a district court judge who edited them to hide the identities of the women involved.

"Those medical records are being reviewed by criminal prosecutors and investigators in my office," Kline said yesterday. "I want to remind Kansans that women and children are not and never will be under investigation – only abortion doctors, confirming doctors, and rapists are under investigation.

"Also, I have never sought the women's identities. I do not need their identities. Their privacy is protected by a protocol my office established with the district court judge to remove the identifying information of the women from the very beginning," he said.

But he noted that state records confirm in 2003 alone, 78 girls under the age of 15 had abortions in Kansas. By law, that amounts to 78 cases of sexual assault on a child, or worse.

Source: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52744

Planned Parenthood under investigation for fraud

Allie Martin - OneNewsNow EXCLUSIVE - 9/30/2008 10:00:00 AM

More than 50 members of Congress have asked the Health and Human Services Secretary to conduct an audit of Planned Parenthood over allegations that the abortion provider has overbilled the federal government.

The request for the audit was initially made by a coalition of faith-based groups, including the American Family Association. Planned Parenthood receives federal funding through the Title X Family Planning Program, a 90-percent Medicaid match for family planning, and a federal program to purchase drugs from manufacturers at a reduced price.

Source: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=269420

In view of the above, the attached list of enforcement actions taken by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Diller column, we believe at least the two Planned Parenthood Corporations listed above are showing a pattern of disregard for State law and the taxpayer’s money. Such a pattern should warrant investigation.

Very truly yours,

William B. Elmer

Member