The state of Texas is cutting off Planned Parenthood funding from the state’s Medicaid program. In a letter from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of the Inspector General, the state said Texas affiliates of the non-profit were:
“no longer capable of performing medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal, and ethical manner.”
Much controversy has arisen in light of videos that have sparked accusations such as “baby parts” and “selling parts for money.” One of the videos under fire was shot in Texas. Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood, defended the organization and said that they had done nothing illegal while testifying for a House committee recently.
Republicans, ignoring facts, have chosen to continue their with hunt against Planned Parenthood. Executive Vice President, Dawn Laguens, has spoken out against this decision, saying:
“It is completely outrageous that Texas officials are using thoroughly discredited, fraudulent videos to cut women off from preventive health care… We will fight back against this outrageous, malicious, political attack in Texas with everything we’ve got, and we will protect women’s access to the health care they need and deserve.”
Who is actually affected? A 2013 study looked at this. Researchers concluded that Texas’ policies at trying to end Planned Parenthood funding, could impact around 200,000 [mostly low-income] women. They also concluded that cuts from back in 2013 would cause Texas to see 24,000 unplanned births, which would raise state AND federal Medicaid costs by $243 million. With this new decision, things are undoubtedly going to get worse for women in Texas. We must fight back! Texas is a huge state so what they do can set standards across the nation, and we can’t let that happen.
Featured Image via MRCTV
