Exhibit A to stop funding to Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood of Montana said it will not be negatively impacted by President Donald Trump’s approval Thursday of a law allowing states to deny federal family planning money to health clinics that also offer abortion.
At issue is federal Title X funding for women’s health services. Through states, health clinics receive federal funding for family planning services, including contraception, fertility, pregnancy care, breast and cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted diseases and contraception.
The money cannot be used for abortion services. However, anti-abortion groups have argued that any federal subsidy to a clinic that provides abortion helps keep the clinic open and therefore makes abortion services available. These groups oppose a women’s constitutional right to decide personal health matters, including abortion, under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
That’s not the reality of women’s health care at Planned Parenthood of Montana, said PPM President and CEO Martha Stahl. Women’s health services, like contraception and family planning, are important in preventing unintended pregnancies, she said.
“It’s really important to point out that the Title X program is one of the best ways in the country that we have for women getting health care and birth control, which reduces the number of unintended pregnancies and reducing the number of abortions,” Stahl said.[…]
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, said the change will lead to better care for women and girls. She said the law “simply ensures that states are not forced to fund an abortion business with taxpayer dollars.” She said states will now have the option to spend federal family planning funds on comprehensive health care clinics.