Students speak: Trump’s plan for women’s health
As part of their AP U.S. Government studies, Marshfield High School students researched and compiled information on an issue they cared about and wrote letters to the editor. Hub City Times will publish a collection of their letters.
Dear editor,
With the introduction of the new budget proposal and health care bill, women’s reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood funding have been under scrutiny. President Donald Trump’s initial proposal was to cut Planned Parenthood altogether.
To give an estimate of how little this cut would affect overall budgeting, the government’s total revenues are over $3.21 trillion, and the money set aside for Planned Parenthood makes up less than 0.002 percent of the annual budget.
Cuts in funding are largely due to the stigma surrounding abortion, particularly how frequently they are provided at the clinics with Vice President Mike Pence going as far as to call them “abortion mills.” But fact of the matter is this Republican agenda is made of the “alternative facts” and embellishments so common to the Trump administration.
NPR.org reports that clinics spent less than 3 percent on these services, and due to the Hyde amendment, none of the money the government provides goes toward abortions. All the money used is from private parties. Government money goes towards screening for cancer, STIs or STDs, and sex education for the public.
Women are not going to stop needing care. This organization does so much good in our communities, especially those with low incomes. Planned Parenthood is not an abortion mill, nor does it solely offer contraceptive methods. The clinics simply look out for the health of women. Now we, as worthy, taxpaying members of society, must fight to keep them funded.
Maggie Stangl
Marshfield
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