Democratic Wings: States cut funding to family planning clinics, while funding costly antiabortion counselling by religious groups

February 11, 2007

States cut funding to family planning clinics, while funding costly antiabortion counselling by religious groups

From Stephanie Simon in the Los Angeles Times:

At least eight states — including Florida, Missouri and Pennsylvania — use public funds to subsidize crisis pregnancy centers, Christian homes for unwed mothers and other programs explicitly designed to steer women away from abortion. As a condition of the grants, counselors are often barred from referring women to any clinic that provides abortions; in some cases, they may not discuss contraception either.

Here in Texas, the state reduced grants to a Planned Parenthood clinic in downtown Austin — and began sending some of the money to the Roman Catholic diocese a block away. There, in a cozy office adorned with paintings of Jesus and Mary, counselors can collect $1.05 in public funds for every minute they spend encouraging women and teens not to abort.

To deal with its 62% budget cut, the Planned Parenthood clinic in downtown Austin began charging for services long offered free to low-income women. Since the fees took effect, the clinic has distributed 40% fewer birth control pills and has conducted 50% fewer Pap smears to screen for cervical cancer. Several thousand patients have stopped coming.

Not counting more than $400,000 in start-up expenses, the publicly funded antiabortion counseling has run an average of $450 per client. By comparison, a year of exams and contraception only costs $180 per client. In an experiment that's opening a new front in the culture wars, a growing number of states are paying antiabortion activists to counsel women with unplanned pregnancies.

Most states still spend far more money subsidizing comprehensive family planning, but the flow of tax dollars to antiabortion groups has surged in recent months, as programs have taken effect in Texas and Minnesota.

The trend alarms abortion-rights supporters, who assert that the funds would be better spent — and would prevent more abortions — if used to expand access to birth control. But to antiabortion activists such as Nancy McDonald, the funding is both practical and symbolic, a way of putting the state's stamp of approval on their work.

"It's a subtle thing," said McDonald, who runs five crisis pregnancy centers in South Florida. "But people seem to think if you're affiliated with the state, you must be good."

Here in Texas, the state reduced grants to a Planned Parenthood clinic in downtown Austin — and began sending some of the money to the Roman Catholic diocese a block away.

There, in a cozy office adorned with paintings of Jesus and Mary, counselors can collect $1.05 in public funds for every minute they spend encouraging women and teens not to abort. They show clients photos of a translucent fetus; they give away maternity clothes and baby blankets. Later this month, they will begin offering a statesubsidized one-hour class on infant care...

U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), an abortion rights supporter, last year asked undercover investigators to contact 23 crisis pregnancy centers; 20 gave misleading information, such as exaggerating the risk of abortion, he reported. In Austin, the diocese hands out a booklet — approved by the state — that suggests a link between abortion and breast cancer, though the National Cancer Institute has found no such connection.

"It's reprehensible that taxpayer dollars are going to organizations that regularly and deliberately deceive women," said Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation, which represents abortion providers.

Critics also claim that the emphasis on abortion alternatives drains money from basic healthcare. As evidence, they point to Texas.

In 2005, Texas lawmakers redirected $25 million that was to have gone to Planned Parenthood over two years. Most went instead to primary-care health clinics (which provide contraception but not abortion). But $5 million of the money was set aside for antiabortion centers that do not provide medical care and will not refer clients to clinics that prescribe birth control.

To deal with its 62% budget cut, the Planned Parenthood clinic in downtown Austin began charging for services long offered free to low-income women. Since the fees took effect, the clinic has distributed 40% fewer birthcontrol pills and has conducted 50% fewer Pap smears to screen for cervical cancer. Several thousand patients have stopped coming.

Among them is Christina Moore, a 22-year-old mother of two who said she and her husband couldn't afford $23 a month for birth-control pills she used to get free. "But we can't afford to have more kids, either," she said.

Last week, Moore tried to make an appointment with a county clinic; even though she said she had urgent health questions, the earliest they can see her is April.

"I'm already out of pills. I'm worried," Moore said. Her year-old son began howling in the background, and her voice rose: "I do not want to get pregnant now."

Through January, Texas antiabortion groups had counseled 660 women and teens with the tax dollars made available by the shift in resources. Some lawmakers question the cost: Not counting more than $400,000 in start-up expenses, the counseling has run an average of $450 per client. (By comparison, a year of exams and contraception costs $180.)

But activists remain passionate about the trend. Last week, the Texas Catholic Conference sent volunteers in turquoise shirts to the Capitol to give lawmakers angel food cakes — and a long list of legislative priorities.

At the top of the list: Abolish abortion in Texas. Just a few notches below: Fund alternatives.

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February 11, 2007