The discussions about defunding Planned Parenthood are good for boiling blood. An article in the Asheville Citizen-Times covers the local angle, consulting Representative Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe).
Planned Parenthood argues the bad PR is based on contra – er -misconceptions. Only some of the clinics provide abortions. The clinics promote wellness by providing discounted birth control. They also perform cancer screenings and administer flu vaccines. A lot of this healthcare goes to very poor people without insurance or on Medicaid. Besides, the teeny-weeny bit of state funding they receive is a drop in the bucket. Even if Planned Parenthood engaged in abortions, those abortions would save taxpayers gobs and oodles of dollars for supporting birthed children with food, housing, education, probation officers, clinic use, etc.
In sum, it doesn’t matter if birth control is against your religion, or if it sears your conscience that irresponsible people act as if babies are an unintended consequence. Your government must force you to pay for them.
