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The fight against Planned Parenthood continues as Congress (mainly the conservatives) continue to investigate the organization in an effort to end its federal funding. In the wake of the investigation, a clinic in Colorado Springs was targeted by an extremist, leaving three dead and nine injured. You can read more about that from CNN or from the New York Times.
In response to the shooting, Planned Parenthood stated that it would be keeping its doors open. You can read more below via the link tweeted from the organization’s account.
Fortunately, one state has already relinquished its fight with Planned Parenthood. According to an article from The Huffington Post/Reuters, the governor of Alabama has already given up his court case for defunding the organization on the state level. What does this mean for Planned Parenthood in Alabama? Women and men can continue to use PP’s services under Medicaid, and PP will continue to use state funds to help finance the poorer population.
There are a lot of different events transpiring now that have to do with Planned Parenthood and abortion. One is that Planned Parenthood will no longer accept reimbursements from companies that are sent fetal tissues from the clinic. This is where a lot of the controversy comes from; Planned Parenthood was not selling the aborted fetuses for profit, but was asking for $30-$100 reimbursements from researches to cover the costs of processing and transporting it. You can read about that here, as it is outlined toward the end of the article. Another is the Supreme Court’s acceptance of a case challenging Texas abortion laws. The fate of abortion, and the organizations like Planned Parenthood that help provide them, in the U.S. is about to drastically change. As a result of the ruling of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), the most recent landmark abortion case, states are allowed to regulate abortions as long as they do not impose an “undue burden” on the women trying to get them. You can read more about the case here if you are interested. Since this case reaffirmed the findings of Roe v. Wade (1973) (which you read about here if you’re interested), many conservative states have changed tactics to target clinics, as opposed to women. The Texas laws in question require clinics providing the abortions “to have costly hospital-grade facilities” and require clinic physicians to have “admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles” (quotes taken from this Huffington Post article). Why is this upcoming hearing going to be so important? If the Court votes in favor of the laws, claiming that they are constitutional and they are not an “undue burden,” other states will be able to implement similar laws. This is threatening to clinics because it will likely force many to close, as the costs (both financial from having to upgrade their facilities, and social from having to work with other hospitals that do not wish to associate with their poor reputations) will be too great. Women will have an even harder time finding access to safe and legal abortions. If the Court rules against the laws, clinics will have a greater chance of staying open to continue servicing women in need. Planned Parenthood, and other abortion providers, will be able to continue the life-changing work they are already doing. If you are interested in reading more about the case, you can read this article from the Huffington Post. Abortion is a complicated topic in American politics. Many Americans, as men and women and as Democrats and Republicans, are still split on the legality of the procedure. This upcoming case will be one to watch in the news, as Roe v. Wade (1973) will either be enforced for weakened. If you’re a woman, regardless of whether you agree with the idea of abortion, you should be reading into the current events of Planned Parenthood and this upcoming case. Your healthcare choices are at stake. Personally I believe all women should have access to safe and legal abortions, if they feel that is their best option. That’s why I will continue to stand with Planned Parenthood, even as it is investigated and may become defunded. Planned Parenthood provides many basic healthcare services to millions of men and women around the country, and abortion is only one of these services. Women have the right to access abortions and information about abortions. Remember to check out the #StandWithPP trend on Twitter if you haven’t already.
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