Intro: "Democratic women lawmakers fought back against a Republican move they say is aimed at blocking federal funding to Planned Parenthood, declaring it the latest chapter in a war against women."



Protesters march in support of Planned Parenthood. (photo: ForceChange)

Ohio Democrats Blast GOP Over Proposed Cuts to Planned Parenthood

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer

emocratic women lawmakers fought back against a Republican move they say is aimed at blocking federal funding to Planned Parenthood, declaring it the latest chapter in a war against women.

On the steps of the Statehouse, Sen. Nina Turner, a Cleveland Democrat, said that the language slipped into a midterm budget review bill Tuesday is a direct attack on low-income women.

"Planned Parenthood is necessary for poor, urban and rural areas," said Turner, referring to the 32 centers run by the organization across the state. "So basically this is saying to hell with poor, black, Latino, urban and rural women."

But Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, a southern Ohio Republican who supports the language, said the aim is to funnel dollars to "local family planning groups that have local knowledge and local access" that can bring "scarce resources to families that really need it."

He said the intent isn't to single out Planned Parenthood, which still would be included in the tiers of those who could receive funding - albeit at the lowest level.

The language doesn't directly mention Planned Parenthood, but instead reprioritizes federal funding for family planning dollars. The measure divvies up the federal funding so that the lowest priority is to ship money to stand-alone family planning centers - a category including Planned Parenthood centers.

However, Planned Parenthood isn't the only group in that category. Other specialized clinics would be moved to the bottom of the funding list.

It isn't clear how many there are around the state, but one such group is Family Planning Advocates of Northeast Ohio, a Painesville center that would almost certainly lose $90,000 in federal funding, according to the group's leader.

Mary Wynne-Peaspanen, executive director for the clinic, said the funding is used to provide annual exams, breast cancer and testicular cancer screenings and prescription contraceptive coverage.

"That money has the potential to serve 500 people who don't have other options for care," she said. "Typically, they are uninsured people who are poor."

Under the proposal, local health departments would get the top funding priority, followed by nonpublic federally qualified community health centers. Next to receive funding would be nonpublic groups providing comprehensive primary and preventive care along with family planning services and lastly, nonpublic groups providing stand-alone family planning services such as Planned Parenthood and Wynne-Peaspanen's agency.

Gary Dougherty, state legislative director for Planned Parenthood, said the language would have cost the group $1.7 million last year had it been in place. State health department figures released Wednesday show that Planned Parenthood received $1.63 million in 2011 and $1.5 million in 2010.

The language was inserted into the budget bill with the backing of House Finance Chairman Rep. Ron Amstutz, a Wooster Republican, and is taken from a standalone bill sponsored by Rosenberger and Rep. Christina Roegner, a Hudson Republican.

Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life, said the funding would instead flow to 290 centers including 160 community health centers and 130 other health facilities.

"This is just a way for Planned Parenthood to keep a piece of their pie," he said. "They are acting like they are the only entity that provides health care for low income women and that's simply not true."

If approved, Ohio would join Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Kansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, which have blocked or tried to block federal funds to stand-alone family planning organizations, Democrats charge.

"In terms of respecting women's rights to preventative health care, we would be following these states to the bottom if this were passed," Rep. Kathleen Clyde of Portage County said.

Previous stories:

Apr. 18, 7:31 am: Ohio House Republicans move to defund Planned Parenthood

Feb. 4: Komen foundation won't eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood

Feb. 2: Komen for the Cure cancer charity faces backlash over cutting grants to Planned Parenthood