Planned Parenthood Funding

Videos released further divide the country on the issue of Planned Parenthood and what should happen next. (Photos by MCT Campus) Planned Parenthood Videos Spur Vocal Defunding Debate

She reclines in her chair, laughing while sipping wine course this is okay because our annual report makes claim to this small, almost and munching on salad. Her body language reveals insignificant percentage. So now the number one abortion provider in America she is comfortable and relaxed. From a distance doesn’t want to be known for its abortions. it appears as though she is having a conversation Planned Parenthood receives almost half of its annual funding from about what to make for dinner or her plans for the government taxes. In 2014, they received a ridiculous $528.4 million from the weekend. This could not be more deceiving. This woman, U.S. government alone according to the Washington Post. Planned Parenthood’s senior director of medical research, Although it is illegal for this funding to go directly towards abortions in is explaining in detail the murder of unborn babies. most cases, there is no way to track how Planned Parenthood actually uses their BY ABBY SMITH “We’ve been very good at getting heart, lung, liver… financial resources. In their annual reports, Planned Parenthood addresses the EDITORIAL EDITOR so I’m not gonna crush that part. I’m gonna basically crush services provided, but does not disclose what funds are used to administer the below, I’m gonna crush above, and I’m gonna see if I can get specific services. it all intact,” Deborah Nucatola said in the video released on July 14. In 2011, Texas state officials voted to cut tax funding towards Planned

Throughout the past several weeks, millions have Parenthood. Since then, in-state abortions have viewed the sickening videos of Planned Parenthood officials caught on camera discussing abortion. Both sides have the right to be mad: American citizens with the horror and realization of what their taxes are funding and Planned Parenthood with the embarrassment of the truth finally being revealed. These recent events have exposed the longYes, Planned Parenthood should be defunded. dropped by almost 20,000. Think of how many lives could be saved if defunding occurred in all 50 states. In the eighth video recently released against Planned Parenthood, the CEO of StemExpress - one of the science labs Planned Parenthood “donates” fetus organs to - laughs while describing the disgust of some of her employees when they open up a box standing issue of Planned Parenthood and abortion of baby parts. in general. The intent of Planned Parenthood and its practices has always been According to the Washington Times, Planned Parenthood accepts average morally wrong. No matter how many ways they try to defend themselves and payments of $75 per fetus tissue specimen. It is illegal for them to make any their actions, it is as simple as this. According to their 2013 Annual Report, profit on this. However on Aug. 27, in a letter to Congress intended to defend they are taking the lives of over 330,000 innocent unborn lives every year. its practices, Planned Parenthood gave proof to accusations that they have

Planned Parenthood and its supporters try to defend themselves with the been manipulating federal rules to maximize profit on fetus parts. claim that only three percent of its total services are counted as abortions. In The defunding of Planned Parenthood is no longer a political or religious other words, they are only committing three murders for every 100, both female issue. It is a matter of morals. We need to stop reclining casually in our and male, patients that walk in their door. They act like this is something to be comfortable lives, waiting for others to make this change happen. This is the proud of. So someone can say she only cheats on tests three percent of the time time to unite and take a stand against the number one abortion-provider in or drives drunk three percent of the time, and that makes it perfectly okay? America. Don’t be afraid to bring it up in conversations at home, school and

The obvious answer for this so-called women’s health clinic is yes, of work. This is a matter that must be discussed in order for change to come.

Parenthood Videos Spur Vocal Defunding Debate

The video opens with a woman munching on salad of important services such as contraceptives and comprehensive sex-ed. as she casually discusses the sale of fetal tissue in Some states teach abstinence only sex education, according to the Sexuality the middle of a restaurant. She answers questions Information and Education Council of the United States. Many of these states asked by people posing as potential buyers of have teen birth rates alarmingly higher than those that do not teach abstinence donated fetal tissue. They discuss topics like payment and only education, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. the organs that are typically donated to research. The comprehensive sex education that Planned Parenthood provides, however, Flying into mainstream news after the release of a can help lower unplanned pregnancies and abortion rates. series of videos, Planned Parenthood is being slammed by Additionally, Planned Parenthood provides sexual and reproductive health BY TAYLOR SPIES politicians for allegedly selling fetal baby parts. care and education for 4.6 million people per year, according to information REPORTER However, these videos do not show the whole truth. published by Planned Parenthood. Defunding Planned Parenthood would take They are heavily edited and were recorded by an anti- this valuable tool of education and health away from many who cannot afford abortion group, The Center for Medical Progress, according to a report to go to specialized clinics. published by forensic analysts from independent Abortion only represents three percent of the company Fusion GPS. These videos, according to Fusion GPS, would not even hold up in court if they No, Planned entirety of services Planned Parenthood provides, according to information that Planned Parenthood were used as evidence in a trial. The fact that the videos were made by an anti-abortion group should Parenthood should not published in their annual report. Many argue that this in itself is too much and perhaps that’s true, but be proof enough that the videos are biased, but the analysis confirms it. be defunded. when the number of abortions Planned Parenthood provides, 13,995 is compared with the estimated

A fact that most anti-abortion supporters number of pregnancies their other services helps completely ignore is that federal funds given to prevent each year, 515,000, published on Planned Planned Parenthood (yes, your tax money) do not pay for abortions except Parenthood’s website, it’s clear that without Planned Parenthood countless in rare cases. more abortions would happen.

According to the Hyde Amendment, it’s been this way since 1976. The Even if Planned Parenthood was defunded, taxpayers’ money would only cases in which federal money would ever be used towards abortion is in not be saved. The money would likely end up being spent somewhere else. cases of rape, incest or to save the life or health of the mother. Additionally, the demand for these services doesn’t go away by defunding one

When fetal tissue is donated, the person getting an abortion must consent organization. Defunding Planned Parenthood would end up hurting more to the donation and cannot know where the tissue will be sent. Only about people than it would help. Although those who believe abortion is morally $30 per donation is given back to the company and according to Jim Vaught, wrong seem to think defunding Planned Parenthood will solve the issue president of the International Society for Biological and Environmental of abortion, it will really just leave 4.6 million people in need of sexual and Repositories, this is a reasonable cost. reproductive healthcare and education.

Defunding Planned Parenthood would only achieve is getting rid (This editorial does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Notre Dame de Sion School.)