That Planned Parenthood Battle Continues On | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

That Planned Parenthood Battle Continues On

Cut funding.

5
That Planned Parenthood Battle Continues On
The Federalist

As of March 30th, 2017, Senate voted to allow states to defund Planned Parenthood as they see fit. The Senate was split 50/50, with Vice President Mike Pence, breaking the tie. The rule was one of the last hurrah’s of the Obama administration, which prohibited states from denying federal money to be funneled to planned parenthood. “It requires that state and local governments distribute federal funds for services related to contraception, sexually transmitted infections, fertility, pregnancy care, and breast and cervical cancer screening to qualified health providers, regardless of whether they also perform abortions.” This has been a talking point for Republicans for quite some time- having hold of congress, this was their chance to make that change. The Congressional Review Act of 1996 allows congress to overturn regulatory rules within a prescribed time frame. “The Congressional Review Act of 1996 established expedited (or “fast track”) procedures by which Congress may disapprove a broad range of regulatory rules issued by federal agencies by enacting a joint resolution of disapproval.” This has been a tactic to turn around Obama's policies in an expedited way and has been used by past congresses, however it is not often executed successfully.

The opposition to Planned Parenthood has been focused on the clinics that also include abortion services. There is an attempt to support the health-related services, but not the abortion piece, unfortunately this is an important service they provide, and is a part of their structure and mission.

The vote that took place on March 30th, is intended to allow states more freedom of choice and discretion with this funding, “Today, Congress is sending a resolution to President Trump ensuring that states are not forced to fund America’s abortion giant, Planned Parenthood, with Title X tax dollars,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, a prominent anti-abortion group.

Now, Planned Parenthood receives reimbursement for services from programs such as Medicaid and Title X for the most part. Title X (Title 10) is a family planning program that has been active since 1970. Title X focuses on preventative care, and in 2015, the program provided 800,000 pap smear tests, 1 million breast exams, and 6 million STD tests. Aside from this, the program helps provide affordable birth control, and help alleviate the burden of unplanned pregnancies on society. It is melodramatic and non factual to refer to Planned Parenthood funded by Title X, as an “abortion giant”.

What this boils down to, is the lack of priority regarding preventative care, and little interest in preventing unplanned pregnancies. According to 2016 Guttmacher Institute research, “In 2010, at least 36% of pregnancies in every U.S. state were unintended. In 28 states and the District of Columbia, more than half of pregnancies were unintended.” On average, unintended pregnancies cost the US public, $21 billion a year. Much of this is due to the fact that a large demographic of women having unplanned pregnancies, are low-income. This is the demographic Planned Parenthood mainly serves and reaches. The Guttmacher study also projected that if it were not for publicly funded family planning services, that yearly cost would be approximately, 75% higher. This congressional decision is directly affects an already vulnerable population, and is slicing down on affordable and essential health care options.

Unintended pregnancies are higher in America than other adjacent developed countries. There has been a constant societal and political push-back to family planning, birth control access, abortion services as well as affordable health care. This goes far beyond being a social service, affordable family planning services are an integral part of addressing a significant and pressing public health issue.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
friends

Here you will find a list of many of the people you will come across in your life, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to give a name to all these characters that you hopefully see day to day. Don't take these friends for granted because they all add a little something to your life, and if you can't name all of them to your personal friends, chances are it might be you...

Keep Reading...Show less
gossip girl

On the Upper East Side, Blair Waldorf is an icon. She's what every girl aspires to be. She's beautiful, confident, and can handle any obstacle that life throws at her. Sure, she may just be a television character. But for me, she's a role model and theres a lot that can be learned from Queen B.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Perks of Being a Girl

“I just want you to know that you’re very special… and the only reason I’m telling you is that I don’t know if anyone else ever has.”

2786
girl

As frustrating and annoying as it can be, being a girl is really awesome. We are beautiful inside and out. Not a lot of people may see that, but girls have a ton of amazing qualities.

We have unique flirting skills.

Us girls have a significant way to flirt with other people. Even when we say the most random or awkward things, we have a way of making everything sound cute and planned. It’s just a gift; we’re good like that.

Keep Reading...Show less
gossip girl

Us college students know all about the struggle of spending the day in the library. Whether you are writing a ten-page paper, studying for a biology exam, or struggling through math homework, you somehow find the strength to get to the library to get it all done. Let's just say you have a lot of different thoughts that run through your head during the many hours you spend in the lovely library.

Keep Reading...Show less
female tv characters
We Heart It

Over the past decade, television has undergone a very crucial transition: the incorporation of female lead characters. Since it's a known fact that girls actually do run the world (Beyonce said so herself), it's time for the leading ladies of the small screen to get some credit. Without these characters, women would still be sitting in the background of our favorite shows. These women are not only trailblazers for female empowerment, but role models for women worldwide. With that, here are 15 of the smartest, sassiest ladies gracing our screens that remind us that women do, indeed, rule:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments