As fragile as health care is in our country, the threat to one of our largest providers cannot be overlooked. Yes, typical government greed is fueling the now notorious assault on Planned Parenthood, but what’s more disturbing is the irony: The issues this bill is trying to alleviate, such as our hurting economy, teen pregnancy and abortion, will certainly be exacerbated if it is passed.
Because desperate times sometimes call for whatever this is, it’s understandable that to some, the bill seems financially rational. This becomes even more true in the eyes of proponents because the bill’s writer, Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., justifies saving such funds by purporting that taxpayers shouldn’t pay for services of which they don’t approve. But Title X already prohibits federal funding from supplying abortion services, even though abortions are a mere 3 percent of the otherwise largely preventative services Planned Parenthood provides.
Even more insulting is another of proponents’ lies ““ contrary to what they say, family planning services actually save the government money.
According to a study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute, the government saves $4 for every $1 spent funding pregnancy-related services. This accounts for what would have otherwise been Medicaid expenditures. In fact, the first federal family planning grants were made by the Office of Economic Opportunity.
To add to that irony, cutting funding will undoubtedly lead to more unintended pregnancies, perpetuate our STD endemic and pave the way for abortions to occur in higher numbers and riskier settings.
Should the Senate pass the bill already approved in the House of Representatives, 3 million women, men and teens will be at a loss for basic health services, making the amendment one of the most retrogressive pieces of legislation for American health care in decades.
The proponents of this bill are simply lying. We must not overlook the seriousness of this proposed cut and its corollaries.
Chances are, if you have not personally benefited from this clinic, someone close to you has ““ one in five women have visited a Planned Parenthood in their lifetime. Something as basic as our health cannot be jeopardized in the name of economic frugality, even if the omnipresent financial crisis is permeating every other aspect of our generation’s lives.
Planned Parenthood may have a formidable history. Its establishment is reprehensible, and in recent years, their professionalism has come under scrutiny.
Shady past or not, Planned Parenthood is still an effective organization that betters low-income communities.
Given that government funding is typically a bureaucratic black hole filled with deceptive allocations, Planned Parenthood should be commended for its dedication to providing free services and to keeping a genuine commitment to the values they claim.
Planned Parenthood advocates for comprehensive policies to protect youths and women, invests in educational programs and provides global assistance to help communities overcome health and educational barriers.
As young beneficiaries of such services, we must urge our Senate to not let this misguided, shortsighted and obtuse bill become a reality. Planned Parenthood is far too valuable to the health and betterment of this country. The loss of its federal funding will cause 500 of 800 centers to close, many of which, as fate would have it, don’t even provide abortion services.
Don’t let such a valuable resource be lost before the impact of its absence is realized.
Do you think the arguments for cutting funding are valid? E-mail Moradi at imoradi@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to opinion@media.ucla.edu.