Two Day Magazine

We (literally) can’t afford to lose Planned Parenthood

By now, we are all aware that states all over the union are trying their hardest to defund, devalue and diminish Planned Parenthood. We are also aware that because of these cuts, more women will have unplanned pregnancies and less women/men/teens will have access to healthcare. But, what I was not aware of, however, was the exact monetary ramifications of such budgetary cuts to Planned Parenthood. Because of these unsound cuts to women’s health, 284,000 women will lose health care services and the state will lose $38 million dollars. That’s a large chunk of change to lose for a state that is financially suffering.

The Texas Observer reports that the Texas House has approved a budget that eliminates $62 million dollars from family planning services and redirects that money towards crisis pregnancy centers, autism services and early childhood intervention. This only will put more pressure on the state’s Medicaid program, which in turn, will have to pick up the slack and cover an extra 20,511 more births, costing the state over $100 million dollars in the next two years. Talk about fiscal irresponsibility.

But, it isn’t only Planned Parenthood that will lose out. 63 other organizations will also be hit hard by these budget cuts, and clinics that provide services to low income women will most likely be hit the hardest.

Republican Rep. John Zerwas said he’d like to keep some money for family planning (gee, what a doll) just as long as Planned Parenthood can’t get to it.

“We have a need to provide funding for some of these women’s health services that are not going to be met if we don’t do this, and I’m very much about the business of limiting those funds such that they don’t go to (facilities) that provide abortions. I anticipate getting to a place where we can restore some funding but with those provisions in place that will give this House comfort that these monies aren’t going to be utilized in affiliation with abortions.”

Let’s lay it out for John Zerwas. If you cut family planning, women’s access to safe and legal abortion, and also a place to receive information regarding birth control, women’s health care and pre-natal care, you will inevitably have more unplanned pregnancies, women taking more dangerous measures to end those pregnancies, and more women and children living in poverty. Those unwanted children that were forced into being will most likely grow into neglected teens who have a higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity, and a higher chance of dropping out of high school or being involved with criminal activites. The cycle continues.

These men in power are so against anything to do with Planned Parenthood, that they would rather their state suffer financially that allow women access to basic healthcare needs. Shame on them.