Both the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood deny having any relationship. Reporters eventually caught up with Representative Morris and here's a portion of what he said:
Morris: "If you do the research and look online, and I've challenged many people including constituents to do this and their eyes have been opened.”
WRTV reporter: “let's go through a few other things. You say girl scouts promote homosexual lifestyle. How do you know that?”
Morris: “Like I said, when you get online and you look at it…”
WRTV reporter: “So what you're saying is you're trusting everything that you've read online?”
Morris: “My family did the research. There are girls online that state as such and I challenge everyone to do your research on Girl Scouts of America."
The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana addressed Morris' claims in detail in a document provided here.
Again, both the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood deny having any relationship.
Planned Parenthood called Morris' comments, "Inflammatory, misleading, woefully inaccurate and harmful."
But as you’ve read, Representative Morris says he's done his research and stands by that letter.
We're told people are leaving piles of Girl Scout cookies on the doorsteps of his home and office.
How are Morris' fellow Rebulicans reacting?
House Speaker Brian Bosma, who is also a Republican, offered and ate Girl Scout cookies throughout the day yesterday as he oversaw business at the House.
At one point yesterday, he told House colleagues he'd, "purchased 278 cases of Girl Scout cookies in the last 48 hours."
Reaction from the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana
The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana have responded to Morris' claims in a very thorough document: Click here to read it
Statement from Planned Parenthood of Indiana
The following statement was released Tuesday afternoon:
“It was disappointing to read Rep. Morris’ inflammatory, misleading, woefully inaccurate and harmful words about Planned Parenthood, the Girl Scouts of America, and the President and First Lady.
"PPIN does not produce nor distribute the materials Rep. Morris referenced. Planned Parenthood of Indiana is first and foremost a provider of affordable, high-quality health care, serving more than 100,000 Hoosiers across the state. Our nonprofit provides preventive services such as life-saving cancer screenings, Pap tests, birth control, testing and treatment for STDs, as well as sexual health education and health counseling. As part of our sexual education services, we offer a variety of age-appropriate education services developed by trained professionals.
"On the national level, inflammatory and generally inaccurate claims about a partnership between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood have been promoted primarily by anti-choice lawmakers seeking to place pressure on organizations to disassociate or distance themselves from Planned Parenthood. As part of their campaign against the Girl Scouts, these groups are also attacking the Girl Scouts’ policies on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"Planned Parenthood currently has no formal partnership with the Girl Scouts, but supports their mission and recognizes their century of contributions to our society.
"Planned Parenthood of Indiana will continue working to fulfill our mission of providing affordable and quality care to Hoosiers who need it. At a time when Indiana’s families are struggling, it is disappointing to see legislators, such as Rep. Morris, focused on divisive social issues and restricting access to basic health care, rather than creating jobs and putting our neighbors back to work.”
Letter from Bob Morris
This is verbatim text of the letter from Indiana state Rep. Bob Morris to fellow lawmakers:
February 18, 2012
Members of the Republic Caucus
Dear Fellow Representatives:
