NARAL Pro Choice Washington is pushing a bill in the special session to expand family planning services to 250% of the poverty line (it’s currently 200%). I’d like it to be for 100% of Washingtonians who want it, but this is a step in the right direction. It passed the state senate earlier this week, and has a hearing in the state house tomorrow. From their press release:
“This legislation is critical for women’s health,” said Lauren Simonds, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. “In our current budget environment, expanding low-income women’s access to family planning care is a no-brainer. SB 5912 will save the state money, starting in the same biennium.”
“NARAL Pro-Choice Washington would like to thank the 30 senators from both parties who stood up for women and families and voted for this legislation,” she added.
Family planning funding is a smart investment. By increasing eligibility in the Take Charge program, the Medicaid Purchasing Administration’s most conservative estimate indicates net savings of at least $3.5 million over the coming biennium.
It has a hearing scheduled for the Ways and Means Committee tomorrow morning. You might want to see if you have a representative on the committee, and give them an email if you do. In this horrible budget cycle, there’s a chance for something positive.
Saves us a whole butt-load of money in the long run. You’d think it would be a no-brainer
Well, I certainly have no objections to abortions as a way of avoiding a life of poverty. I don’t know if I’m that interested in being taxed to pay for those abortions. If I’m feeling charitble, I’ll certainly contribute to people having abortions rather than having families they can’t support. Heck, I may even be OK with tax dollars being used to prevent poverty through abortions for poorer folks. Just give me some time to mull it over.
re 1: If it were really a no brainer, Republicans would be all for it
@2,
Since there’s Medicaid money, I assume it’s not abortion in this case. In a larger sense, I hope it is on the table some day.
@3,
In fairness, some Republicans did support it in the senate.
@3
You’ve got a point there.
@2
More family planning means fewer unplanned pregnancies and thus fewer abortions. And btw, we in America hand out far more corporate welfare than we do social welfare.
@2…well you see, there is this: it’s not all about you, and nobody fucking asked you anyway.
If we had more midwives in Washington that alone would reduce the costs and help with family planning, but as long as the MDs control just about everything they make it difficult for everyone else.
re 7: Those damnable MD’s!!!! Insisting that competent medical services be available.
re # 8 actually midwives have better results than MDs do, lower infant and maternal mortality, better birth weights, and fewer unnecessary procedures such as c sections. There a numerous studies to support that conclusion.
Michael at 5,
Yes, birth control beats unwanted pregnancies any day of the week. I have no problem with any form of contraceptive being used. We can think of abortion as the final form of contraceptive with 100% pregnancy prevention being its relult.
Proud … at 6,
Well, nobody asks for anyone’s opinion on a blog. Are you new to this game?
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