DN Editorial: PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

LAST WEEK, Congress averted a government shutdown and passed a spending bill, thereby removing the wish of some Republicans to tie continued operation of the government to a move to defund Planned Parenthood.

They weren't left completely dissatisfied, though, since a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing last week gave them a chance to excoriate Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards. They questioned her salary, her organization's fundraising ability, and those disputed videos that conservatives claim captured Planned Parenthood trying to "sell baby body parts."

But while Planned Parenthood will still receive federal funds for health services - but, again, none for abortions! - that doesn't mean the battle over women's health is over. In fact, it's hitting closer to home.

First-term state Rep. Paul Schemel, R-Franklin, is proposing legislation that would cut off state funding for services provided by Planned Parenthood.

As a review, in case you've been absent for the past few years, Planned Parenthood provides screening for STDs and cancer, in addition to providing women's health care and family-planning services. In Pennsylvania, it operates 32 health centers serving more than 100,000 patients, almost half of those in medically underserved areas of the state.

In Schemel's words, "this legislation will favor more conventional health-care providers over unconventional providers, such as Planned Parenthood, when allocating public funds for women's health."

Calling Planned Parenthood "unconventional" seems to open a new page in the culture-wars dictionary. Since when does an organization providing 11 million services with $1.3 billion in revenues qualify as "unconventional"?

Schemel wants money to go to public entities, hospitals and federal-qualified health centers that have as their primary purpose "provision of primary health care."

The notion that Planned Parenthood's clients can easily be absorbed by other health facilities is shot down in study after study.

That hasn't prevented New Hampshire and North Carolina from defunding the organization at the state level; four other states are trying.

The current war on Planned Parenthood is a ridiculous one created on false terms, that its main activity is providing abortions and selling body parts. But the battle harms women's health, especially for low-income women who often have no other health-care choices. In fact, abortions represent 3 percent of all the services the organization provides; absolutely no federal funds are used for these procedures.

What is more private or essential than the ability to plan one's family? Why does a woman controlling her reproductive life and the size of her family present such a primal threat to (mostly male) lawmakers?

Especially since public support for Planned Parenthood has remained steady and high. A recent poll found almost half of Americans hold a positive opinion of the organization and most support maintaining federal funding.

As Planned Parenthood continues to fight for its life, it may want to consider a shortcut that will bring a fast end to all criticism: Start selling guns and rename Planned Parenthood "The Second Amendment Defense Clinic."