Women's Health Care

   On March 7, 2012, Charles Kuffner wrote an article within his blog, Off the Kuff, about Texans going on the offensive for women's health care.  Kuffner wrote this article for his fellow democrats asking them to help motivate people to vote in favor of keeping Planned Parenthood in the Woman's Health Program (WHP).  According to recent poll data, fifty-nine percent of Texans believe that Planned Parenthood should stay in the WHP.  If this is what the people want, why is Texas Governor Rick Perry and his fellow Republicans trying to get rid of it?

   

   In 2011, the Republican legislators consistently blocked and ignored numerous bills which would have kept the WHP from expiring on December 31, 2011.  "The program was only allowed to continue into 2012 based on a determination that its inclusion in the state budget constituted legislative direction to renew the program beyond 2011."  

   Planned Parenthood is where most low-income women go for health care.  Without the allotment of these funds for WHP, it would be harder for these women to receive contraceptives, cancer screenings, and other services that they need but can not afford.  The Women's Health Program received $111 million in 2010-2011, but these funds have been reduced to $37 million for 2012-2013 due to many legislative amendments cutting these funds.  Although Republicans argue this reduction of funds is necessary for our budget, the Legislative Budget Board projects this will result in 20,000 unplanned births and "an additional $98 million in state general revenue expenditures during the current biennium."  

  

   In his article, Kuffner quotes Republican Rep. Randy Weber arguing that the use of contraceptives actually increases the need for abortions.  Logistically, this does not make any sense, but the author also linked information to a study showing the opposite is true, Houston Chronicle.

   

   I agree with Charles Kuffner and all the credible information he includes.  I believe the Republican party is basing their actions on lies, and we need to share this information with more people.  Women should no longer be fighting for these rights, and we need to set things right.