CT House approves grants to Planned Parenthood and other groups; takes step toward paying UConn athletes

Yahoo

25-02-2025

State legislators voted Monday night for supplemental grants to Planned Parenthood and a variety of non-profit organizations that prompted opposition by Republicans in the middle of the fiscal year.
By a vote of 94-49 on mostly party lines, the state House of Representatives approved a multi-faceted bill that included various unrelated items, including paving the way for the University of Connecticut to pay their student athletes in the future. The two leaders of the House Democratic moderate caucus – Rep. Kerry Wood of Rocky Hill and Rep. Patrick Boyd of Pomfret – voted with the Republicans against the measure.
The overall funding package of $2.8 million, Democrats said, was necessary due to cuts at the federal level from President Donald J. Trump's administration and a lack of funding for immigrants and refugees, along with lesbian and gay organizations.
State Rep. Tammy Nuccio of Tolland, the ranking House Republican on the budget committee, asked why the money was being allocated in the middle of the fiscal year that ends on June 30. Traditionally, budgets are set in advance for the entire fiscal year, and the totals traditionally do not change while the year is underway.
'We had a hearing where we just appropriated an additional $500,000 to Planned Parenthood,' Nuccio said on the House floor in Hartford. 'I was assured that the half-a-million would cover that. … We're giving them $800,000 again. Why are we giving Planned Parenthood $800,000 now … that they're going to need to spend in the next three months?'
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, a West Hartford Democrat, responded that Planned Parenthood of Southern New England is currently running a deficit.
'This $800,000 will go toward their overall operating' expenses, Gilchrest said.
Earlier Monday, a representative of the Roman Catholic Church called upon legislators to reject the funding.
'Giving more taxpayer money, even one cent, let alone $800,000, to those in the abortion business is truly tragic,' said Chris Healy, executive director of Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference. 'We can only pray for those in power to reject this horrible idea.'
Planned Parenthood, Healy said, had also received an additional $3 million at the end of the 2024 legislative session. He said the organization is the largest abortion provider in the state, adding that more than half of the abortions 'are fully funded by state taxpayers under the Medicaid program' for low-income women.
The bill is scheduled to be debated Tuesday by the state Senate.
Additional grants
Besides Planned Parenthood, more than 20 organizations received money in supplemental grants because they either serve immigrants and refugees or provide services for the LGBTQ community.
Three of the largest grants will be $387,500 for the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, Inc. and $225,000 each for the New Haven Gay and Lesbian Community Center and Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc.
Overall, 20 organizations received the exact same amount at $62,500 as the money was divided evenly. The groups helping immigrants include the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants; Jewish Family Services of Greenwich; Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition; and Center for Children's Advocacy.
Others receiving $62,500 are Anchor Health Initiative Corp.; Middlesex Hospital for a gender clinic; Triangle Community Center; Queer Youth Program of Connecticut; Kids in Crisis; OutCT, Inc.; Bridgeport Pride Center; PFLAG Enfield, Inc.; PEERPRIDE; The World Health Clinicians, Inc.; Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs; Upper Albany Neighborhood Collaborative; City Seed, Inc.; Building One Community Corp.; Havenly, Inc.; and Junta For Progressive Action, Inc.
State Rep. Toni Walker, a New Haven Democrat who serves as the longtime co-chairwoman of the budget-writing committee, said the money was being allocated for groups that need the funding.
'We are all here under one roof, and we should all be treated in one way,' Walker said. 'This is a small, incremental help while we try to work out these issues with Washington.'
She added, 'Many of those federal dollars are getting interrupted.'
Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, a conservative Republican from Wolcott, questioned how the groups were chosen to receive money. Mastrofrancesco questioned why there was no budget committee vote, which is not necessary under the categorization of an 'emergency certified bill' that is approved by the top two Democratic leaders of the legislature. She also questioned why money was going to immigrant organizations when others need money, too.
'We have American citizens who can't even afford their electric bill,' Mastrofrancesco said. 'Yet, we are putting funding into a population … LBBTQ that is less than one percent.'
'We were trying to spread it out to as many organizations as possible,' Walker said. 'There were several locations that had lost funding. … They needed some support.'
Rep. Jay Case, a Winsted Republican, said there are numerous non-profits around the state that need additional money, including homeless shelters, that were not included in the bill.
'Today, we're coming in to do just certain things,' Case said.
UConn sports payments
In an unrelated matter in the same bill, lawmakers moved toward paving the way for athletes to be paid in the future at the University of Connecticut.
'The bill removes a prohibition on student athletes receiving NIL compensation as an inducement to attend, enroll in, or continue attending a specific higher education institution or intercollegiate athletic program,' according to a nonpartisan bill summary. 'Instead, it allows a student athlete, including one who has agreed to attend an institution, to earn compensation through an endorsement contract or revenue sharing agreement directly with an institution or an entity acting on its behalf if the institution has a policy allowing it and the student follows the policy.'
The NCAA, which oversees college athletics, is expected to permit college athletes to essentially be paid, possibly starting in April.
In a fast-changing landscape, UConn asked the legislature to prepare the way for the federal changes, legislators said.
Rep. Timothy Ackert, a Coventry Republican, lamented the changes in college sports.
'It has really blown up,' Ackert said on the House floor. 'Now, it's just like pro sports. … It's not a Connecticut issue. It's a federal issue that we are paying college students. What have we done to college sports? We're allowing the college to do this. It's sad that this is where it's gone to.'
Courant staff writer Christopher Keating can be reached at [e-mail]