Staff Report
Dear Editor,
I wonder if Texans and the American public understand the devastating effects of the severe cuts to Planned Parenthood for which Congress has voted. By eliminating Medicaid funding, 1.1million poor patients will lose access to those services.
Planned Parenthood's major focus has never been about providing abortion services. Indeed, Planned Parenthood tries to prevent the need for abortions-- by helping men and women plan for pregnancies. Their focus has always been to help clients be as healthy as possible and to be able to afford the children they have. Their services include STD screenings and education, cancer screenings, prenatal and postnatal care, birth control, vaccines, well-woman check-ups, and others.
I doubt that our legislators have ever had to worry about affording medical care, food, or clothing for themselves or their children. Perhaps if they acted out their "Christian concerns" and treated their neighbors as they would like to be treated, our state would be a more compassionate, healthy place to live.
Sincerely,
Melanie Cox
Dripping Springs
