Who is Exploiting Women's Health for Political Purposes? Updated

If you listened to Cecile Richards and the Planned Parenthood apologists last week, you might think that the State Legislature is planning to end funding for the Women's Health Program portion of Medicaid.  According to Cecile, et. al., poor women will die if Planned Parenthood doesn't get money from the state. 

The truth is that lawmakers are not cutting the Women's Health Program, but are trying to make sure the funds go to clinics that provide comprehensive health care.  Planned Parenthood customers only see a doctor for abortions, and then only at the procedure itself.  If a woman needs a doctor for anything other than an abortion, Planned Parenthood must refer her out to another facility.  But guess what?  If she does want an abortion, PP gets to sell one to her at a profit.  If we are serious about providing health care for poor women, we should not be sending them to clinics whose primary business is selling abortions, but to clinics that provide for all of a woman's potential health care needs. 

Sensing the tide turning against them, the pro-Planned Parenthood gang trotted out a woman who claimed Planned Parenthood saved her life with a screening test.  The test confirmed she had a sexually transmitted disease that can lead to cervical cancer later in life.  Of course, the other clinics funded by the Woman's Health Program also provide screenings for STD's, and if the woman needed a doctor for her complications, Planned Parenthood would not be able to provide one for her.

In light of these facts, it is apparent that if anyone is exploiting women's health issues for both political and financial gain, it is Planned Parenthood and Cecile Richards. At stake are millions of taxpayer dollars that are funneled to Planned Parenthood each year despite the fact that the organization reports a tidy profit from abortion sales.

Cecile Richards ought to be ashamed.

Update:  The Women's Health Program will expire if the Senate does not reauthorize by the upcoming deadline.   The only bill left standing to re-authorize is SB 1854 (Duell) which requires funds go to facilities that provide comprehensive health care for women.  Cecile Richards and Planned Parenthood are opposing SB 1854, and thus would rather see the Women's Health Program expire rather than lose their funds.  So much for putting women's needs above politics.