Advocates, foes both agree: Fight over Planned Parenthood not over

The U.S. Senate has rejected a budget bill that would, among other things, block funding to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. But at least one local Planned Parenthood representative said "the fight isn't over."

On Wednesday, the Senate voted 44-56 to reject a bill, which the House of Representatives passed in February. The bill contained an amendment, introduced by Indiana Republican Mike Pence, that eliminated all federal funding to Planned Parenthood. In addition to Planned Parenthood, the measure included cuts to food safety programs and Head Start.

The possible defunding of Planned Parenthood, which serves roughly 63,000 patients at 18 centers in Connecticut, has been a hot topic of late among both the organization's supporters and critics. Those in favor of the cuts are largely those who decry the organization's role as an abortion provider. But representatives and supporters of Planned Parenthood said it offers much more than that, and yanking aid could have a devastating effect on women who rely on Planned Parenthood for breast exams, gynecological exams and other services.

Despite the failure of the House-approved bill, Susan Yolen, executive director for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, doesn't believe the agency's funding is totally safe.

"Whatever votes occur today are not the final word," she said. "The fight isn't over."

Lawmakers will now have to come up with a mutually acceptable version of the budget bill.

Judy Tabar, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England said supporters should continue to lobby lawmakers about the importance of preserving the organization's funding. "It's basically back to the drawing board," Tabar said.

Likewise, those who supported the cuts to Planned Parenthood said Wednesday's vote hardly marks the end of their efforts. Those include Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the conservative, Hartford-based organization Family Institute of Connecticut. Wolfgang said he didn't expect the cuts to pass the Senate on the first try. Even if the legislation had cleared that hurdle, he had expected President Barack Obama to veto it. But, Wolfgang said, the fact that the amendment to cut funding made it past the House of Representatives is a "death knell" for federal money for Planned Parenthood.

"We probably have about a decade (of work) ahead of us," he said. "But this is clearly the beginning of the end."

Wolfgang said the institute is in favor of blocking money to Planned Parenthood because they don't believe taxpayers should support abortion. Tabar said abortions represent less than 10 percent of the services provided by the organization, and pointed out that there are already regulations preventing federal funds from being used to pay for abortion.

Wolfgang said, however, the government funds free up Planned Parenthood's existing funds to pay for abortion. He also dismissed the idea that the proposed cuts were an attack on women's health care. "Their other services aren't the issue," Wolfgang said. "Planned Parenthood is first and foremost about aborting children."

But Tabar said that's not true, and that defunding Planned Parenthood would only serve to curb access to the low income women who make up roughly 80 percent of Planned Parenthood's clients.

"They rely on Planned Parenthood for cost-efficient services," Tabar said.

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Amber Plaut, 27, of Milford, has health insurance and goes to Planned Parenthood because she likes and supports it, not due to financial need. However, she said, she knows many woman don't have a choice. "There are some young women who would absolutely have nowhere else to go," Plaut said.

Plaut first visited her local Planned Parenthood, in Shelton, when she was just 16 years old. Her mother was a long-time supporter of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and wanted her daughters to be educated about the various women's health services it provides. That's why Plaut was "horrified" by the movement to defund Planned Parenthood.

"From a young age," said Plaut, "it was presented to my sister and I as a safe haven to ask questions."