"Last I checked, abortion was legal in this country."

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/unintended_consequences_20110222/

Unintended Consequences
Posted on Feb 23, 2011
By Ruth Marcus


House Republicans voted to increase the number of abortions, raise federal health care costs and swell the welfare rolls.

That wasn’t their intent, of course, and certainly not their stated policy. But it is the predictable and inevitable impact of their twin moves to eliminate funding for the federal family planning program and strip Planned Parenthood of all federal money.

If anything, this assessment is understated. The sharper, and still accurate version, would be that Republicans voted to let more women die from breast cancer, cervical cancer and AIDS. How’s that? The family planning programs also provide cancer screening and HIV counseling to millions of low-income and uninsured people.

Let’s be clear about one thing. Almost none of this money went for abortions. The only federal funding for abortion involves the thankfully low number of situations in which poor women seek abortions for pregnancy due to rape or incest, or when their own lives are in jeopardy. In 2006, the last year for which figures are available, the federal government paid for 191 such abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

snip//

The inevitable result of eliminating Title X funding would not only be more abortions—it would also be higher bills for taxpayers footing Medicaid and welfare costs for poor children. Guttmacher found that every Title X dollar invested in family planning care saves $3.74 in Medicaid expenditures for pregnant women and their babies during the first year of care. Imagine the lifetime savings.

And then there is the other “important work” that Pence cited: 2.2 million Pap smears, 2.3 million breast exams, nearly 6 million tests for sexually transmitted infections.

If Republicans really believe that this is not a wise use of government funds, they are crazier than I thought.

[hobbit709]

1. You need to revise your thinking-they ARE that crazy.

They just don't give a shit about consequences. All they care about is in telling you that you're on your own.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. If the various bills to restrict abortion were enacted, the next thing

they'd do is to reduce Medicaid for pregnant women and children, daycare, Food Stamps, and any subsidies for survival.

[NYC Liberal]

3. Only "reduce"?

More like eliminate, if they could get away with it

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Yes, eliminate but through incremental reduction.

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

[w8liftinglady]

6. I am seeing this live and well in texas... Perry congrats the senate for requiring ultrasounds

“I commend the Texas Senate for quickly passing SB 16, an important achievement in our efforts to protect life. Considering the magnitude of the decision to have an abortion, it is crucial that Texans understand what is truly at stake. We know that when someone has all the information, the decision to choose life becomes clear. I look forward to working with House members to pass this legislation quickly, to ensure Texans are fully informed when considering such an important decision.”



i commented on this in my paper,and was actually responded to by one of my "opponents"

"Do you think Perry is refusing to allow abortions?"

I replied "Who will pay $450.00 to see a verification of the preganancy test they have already had? people who are barely getting by will simply resort to the backroom hangers we used before safe pregnancy termination was available."

"I will be contacting our state senator."

he saw the light.

[gratuitous]

7. Keep checking; abortion doesn't have to be illegal to be denied

And here are the Republicans still claiming with a straight face that they want to keep government out of people's private lives.

[Jmaxfie1]

8. Well look at their policy in Africa.

Its much better for a person to die of Aids than use a condom.