Planned Parenthood, since its inception in 1970 during President Nixon’s administration, has continually been a recipient of Title X money – that is, until now. On August 19, 2019, Planned Parenthood announced that they would no longer participate in the federal Title X program as part of the 1970 Public Health Service Act, aimed at providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and granting funds to community-based clinics that provide contraceptive services, related counseling, and other preventative services. Additional partners entitled to funding include but are not limited to: state and local health departments, tribal organizations, hospitals, independent clinics, community health centers, faith-based organizations, and various other for and non-profit organizations.
Since its creation, Title X funding is allocated via Congressional appropriations, and have seen a significant increase under various administrations, particularly under President Obama. While Planned Parenthood has argued that its funding is not directly used for abortion procedures, the Trump Administration has issued a “gag order” of sorts that prevents medical or counseling personnel from suggesting personnel or places that offer abortion services. According to Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president of Planned Parenthood, “This is not about Planned Parenthood’s budget. This is about our patients. More fundamentally, this is about an attack on reproductive healthcare.”
You’re wrong, @VP. It was your administration that tried to bully Planned Parenthood into withholding information from our patients — and we said no.
Your gag rule will put birth control and reproductive health care out of reach for millions of people.
Do NOT pretend otherwise. pic.twitter.com/C7J5puNXia
— Alexis McGill Johnson (@alexismcgill) August 20, 2019
Immediately following the rejection announcement from Planned Parenthood, Democrats and Republicans took to both offense and defense, both supporting and attacking the Trump Administration’s continued fight against abortion. One such Republican was Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise saying Planned Parenthood is “in the business of abortion, not healthcare.
Planned Parenthood is clearly revealing itself to be in the business of abortion, not health care. I’m proud to see @realDonaldTrump stand up to Planned Parenthood, and prevent taxpayer funding from subsidizing the abortion industry. https://t.co/9EdF5SPh0b
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) August 20, 2019
The Trump Administration continues to battle for his base; ensuring that the upcoming 2020 Election will pit both parties against one another on traditional and fundamentally-based concerns. With Planned Parenthood deciding to remove their participation from Title X, faith-based clinics who oppose abortion will now be eligible to receive additional funding. The Democratic-led House of Representatives has passed a funding bill that blocks the Trump rule; however, the Republican-led Senate has yet to act. Both Senators Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have both said they are opposed to any “gag order.”
With this showdown, it is all but assured that this battle is far from over. Since the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe v Wade, abortion has been a fundamental argument between Democrats and Republicans. With Congressional dollars in the mix, it is enviable that the Supreme Court of the United States is primed for yet another docket-slated abortion matter. With a current federal debt level of over $22 trillion, fiscal Republicans see the benefit in limiting funding, particularly for government programs aimed against their faith-based agendas. Stay tuned for complete coverage and updates from the Liberty Loft as Liberal-Progressives continue their push of immoral and costly governmental subsidies.
You can contact Eric Wright through the Liberty Loft website or by Twitter.
