Utah lawmaker proposes defunding rape prevention

[JollyRoger]

A state lawmaker is opening a bill file to keep federal officials from routing money to Planned Parenthood through Utah state agencies. But his opponents say the measure could cause serious harm.

Agencies like the Utah Department of Health are given federal money designated to go to Planned Parenthood. Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, says that's what his bill is trying to stop.

"The vast majority of the citizens of this state do not support the agenda of Planned Parenthood," he said. "Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the country."

But Planned Parenthood Association of Utah CEO Karrie Galloway says none of the money that passes though state agencies goes to funding abortions. Current laws prevent that from happening.

Galloway says there are only three programs funded by federal money filtered through state agencies. One program is an abstinence program, which keeps teenage girls from getting pregnant. Another goes to rape prevention. The third funds lab testing for chlamydia.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=15617686

Next thing you know, Glenn Beck will be booking hotel stays in Utah.

 

[Newbunkle]

Next thing you know, Glenn Beck will be booking hotel stays in Utah.

And partying like it's 1990?

 

[Skwink]

How exactly does a foundation prevent rape?

 

[JollyRoger]

How exactly does a foundation prevent rape?

You pound the would-be rapist's head into the foundation.

 

[El_Machinae]

How exactly does a foundation prevent rape?

Through outreach campaigns, in order to help keep awareness of the issue upfront, so that people don't forget what things constitute sexual assault. "No means no", for example, is an outreach slogan that is very successful.

Also they collect statistics in order to help highlight the issue and to create the ability to look at correlations to see which policies help and which don't.

Rape is still a pretty serious issue, even in developed societies (and much worse in less developed societies).

 

[LucyDuke]

The OP does a great job showing how misinformed people are in their vilification of Planned Parenthood.

 

[Disgustipated]

You pound the would-be rapist's head into the foundation.

I would give money to support this.

 

[Cutlass]

I can't help wondering how many children will die because Planned Parenthood isn't around for prenatal care?

 

[El_Machinae]

Very few, I'd imagine. The main risk of improper prenatal care is either developmental disadvantage (i.e., lower IQ or other health issues) or improperly prepared parents, making the early years more stressful on the parents and the child.

 

[wcbarney]

I can't help wondering how many children will die because Planned Parenthood isn't around for prenatal care?

A lot fewer children will die because their mothers don't receive the (non-existent) Planned Parenthood prenatal care than will die because their mothers do receive the Planned Parenthood abortions.

 

[bhsup]

But Planned Parenthood Association of Utah CEO Karrie Galloway says none of the money that passes though state agencies goes to funding abortions. Current laws prevent that from happening.

I have -never- accepted this ridiculous reasoning. Say they are currently spending $100,000 a year for non-abortion activities (we'll just say utility bills)that they would rather spend helping women who want abortions get ones. The State comes along and says "hey, you guys, here's $100,000 for your utilities". Planned Parenthood gets all giddy, plays with the books, ensures the actual dollars the State gave them only goes to utilities. But, that just freed up $100,000 of their own money they used to spend on utilities to now spend on abortions.

Really, it is a ridiculous shell game. If you want to give money to planned parenthood, don't be coy about it, just say "here's money, go fund abortions". Do not try to cover it up with shell games that don't mean squat.

 

[wcbarney]

The OP does a great job showing how misinformed people are in their vilification of Planned Parenthood.

The OP does a super job showing just how easy it is to spin a complex subject with a clever headline.

 

[Bestbank Tiger]

I can't help wondering how many children will die because Planned Parenthood isn't around for prenatal care?

None. Their insurance will cover it thanks to the historic achievement of health care reform.

 

[wcbarney]

None. Their insurance will cover it thanks to the historic achievement of health care reform.

This is a joke, right? Sarcasm?

 

[Formaldehyde]

The OP does a great job showing how misinformed people are in their vilification of Planned Parenthood.

It is certainly no different than ACORN, NPR, or any other partially-funded program the conservatives have trashed, or tried to trash, in quite similar ways.

 

[LucyDuke]

I have -never- accepted this ridiculous reasoning. Say they are currently spending $100,000 a year for non-abortion activities (we'll just say utility bills)that they would rather spend helping women who want abortions get ones. The State comes along and says "hey, you guys, here's $100,000 for your utilities". Planned Parenthood gets all giddy, plays with the books, ensures the actual dollars the State gave them only goes to utilities. But, that just freed up $100,000 of their own money they used to spend on utilities to now spend on abortions.

Really, it is a ridiculous shell game. If you want to give money to planned parenthood, don't be coy about it, just say "here's money, go fund abortions". Do not try to cover it up with shell games that don't mean squat.

I have bolded the flaw in your reasoning.

The OP does a super job showing just how easy it is to spin a complex subject with a clever headline.

I don't care for the headline. The subject isn't very complex and the quotes posted, which is what I was referring to, don't spin anything.

 

[bhsup]

Fair enough, Lucy. But I hope you get the gist of my post. When you give money to an organization, it's really impossible to say it isn't being used for any one thing because it just frees up monies elsewhere in the organization.

 

[Bestbank Tiger]

This is a joke, right? Sarcasm?

Yep. That bill was a fraud and a disgrace. Shame they pass something that intrusive and don't even take care of prenatal care.

That said, there is no reason to directly fund the provider, PP or otherwise. Let the patient have the funds and choose her provider. if that happens to be PP that's fine. Even better, let people use their HSA funds on behalf of a third party. If you have that money in the bank and want to help someone else, you should be free to do so. It would create an alternative to the insurance model and force Big Insurance to either clean up its act or disappear.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Fair enough, Lucy. But I hope you get the gist of my post. When you give money to an organization, it's really impossible to say it isn't being used for any one thing because it just frees up monies elsewhere in the organization.

Well, no it doesn't. That is unless you are claiming there is a conspiracy to hide the actual costs of these programs so Planned Parenthood can secretly promote their real agenda by using taxpayer dollars.

 

[bhsup]

That said, there is no reason to directly fund the provider, PP or otherwise. Let the patient have the funds and choose her provider. if that happens to be PP that's fine.

As much as I am opposed to PP's abortions, I don't think this tactic would work. The organizations need the funds to simply have the infrastructure to exist in the first place. Remember, they're not typically used by people with health insurance to begin with, but rather the poor.

Now, I have a solution. Split PP into two completely separate groups. One that soley does abortions and gets funded privately by people who think it is important to have such a place. Another, the core PP, totally separate business entity with no ties to the other, that does EVERYTHING else that nobody should really have a problem with.