Senator says MU still has ties to Planned Parenthood

A state committee chairman is disputing reports that the University of Missouri has severed ties with Planned Parenthood.

Reports surfaced Wednesday morning that MU had ended a 26-year relationship with MU, saying it has cancelled 10 contracts with the organization after pressure from the state Senate Sanctity of Life committee. The panel was formed to investigate the practices of Missouri’s Planned Parenthood facilities, namely what the clinics do with fetus parts after abortions. It also questioned the university’s connection with the doctor at the agency’s Columbia clinic.

The chairman of the committee, Sen. Kurt Schaefer, a Republican from Columbia, said MU still has contracts with Planned Parenthood.

“We did have the chancellor in about two weeks ago and testified under oath that there were a series of expired contracts with Planned Parenthood which the university sent letters to them saying they were canceling what are already expired contracts. But in fact, there are still contracts that continue to go on. Including, the contract with the social work program at the University of Missouri,” said Schaefer.

ABC 17 News reached out to MU officials and they referred to a Sept. 2 statement from Chancellor Bowin Loftin, which states no MU facility or any of its personnel has performed an abortion, but did not mention any details about contracts.

Schaefer said the committee will continue to investigate the practices of Planned Parenthood in Missouri.