Phil Ammann
With Planned Parenthood under attack once again, the GOP “war on women” is far from over, so says the latest email from progressives at American Bridge 21st Century.
Jeb Bush, who earlier said he was “not sure we need half a billion dollars for women’s health issues,” has changed his position – and not for the better.
The Republican presidential candidate, in a town hall meeting this week, actually went one step further. Doubling down on his stance, the former Florida governor declared Planned Parenthood should not get a penny because they are “not actually doing women’s health issues.”
Bush’s attack, as well as that of other Planned Parenthood critics, only serves as a campaign trail dog-whistle to work up the conservative base, the group contends.
American Bridge wasted little time answering the call with facts and some “helpful reminders” proving Planned Parenthood is, in fact, a leader in “doing women’s health issues.”
Using the Planned Parenthood 2013-2014 annual report, the organization’s health centers provided 487,029 breast exams, with 87,988 women detecting early cancer or other abnormalities. Planned Parenthood also provided more than 1.4 million emergency contraception kits, providing contraceptive services that averted nearly 516,000 unintended pregnancies. In addition to pregnancy services, more than 704,000 HIV tests conducted, with more than 169,000 STIs diagnosed.
In 2013, Planned Parenthood collected $528.4 million in state and federal funding. The majority of that money was through Medicaid reimbursements or grants under Title X, the federal program supporting family planning — with none going for abortions, the biggest issue for conservatives.
Of course, supporters say, taking money away from Planned Parenthood – which “actually doing women’s health issues” – will only result in low-income women turning to other, often publicly funded, facilities for contraception, Pap tests, urinary tract infection treatments and female sterilization.
The only way to fight this latest “war on women” is with the facts, American Bridge said.
