What We're Reading This Morning -- May 10
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Good morning, everyone! Another busy day, so we’ll head straight to the highlights. Here’s what we’re reading and watching this morning…
Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards spoke with MSNBC’s Ed Schultz about the attacks on women’s health. Watch the clip below:
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Republican Representative Robert Dold stands up for Planned Parenthood and women’s access to health care—putting women before politics. “GOP Freshman Breaks With His Party To Support Planned Parenthood Funding”—“As another state has banned Planned Parenthood funding, Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL) introduced a bill to protect federal funds to Planned Parenthood. Dold, one of the few pro-choice Republicans in Congress, said today that he was pushing for the bill because of the importance of Title X family planning funds for women’s health: ‘We have seen several attempts to block funds and exclude health care providers from participating in the Title X program simply because they separately offer services beyond the scope of Title X. We should not discriminate against hospitals and organizations that provide access to basic, preventative, and in some cases life-saving services for so many underprivileged women through Title X.’ Dold said he wants to ‘bring both sides together’ in support of Planned Parenthood and health care for women, but it’s unclear how much support he will get. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Energy and Commerce Oversight subcommittee chairman who launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood, told Politico that he did not understand why Dold’s bill was necessary because ‘there’s no discrimination against Planned Parenthood.’”
In Montana, access to basic preventive health care is protected as a judge strikes down the state’s ban on birth control. “Birth Control Coverage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional”—“HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A Montana judge has struck down the state's ban on prescription birth control coverage for teenage girls enrolled in its low-income health insurance program. Healthy Montana Kids, the insurance program for families with incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, had covered prescription contraceptives for uses such as preventing acne or easing cramps, but it would not cover contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. District Judge Jim Reynolds of Helena ruled Friday that those regulations violate the Montana Constitution's privacy and equal protection clauses, and he prohibited the state from enforcing them. A minor's choice regarding procreation is constitutionally protected, whether that choice is to prevent, obtain, maintain or terminate a pregnancy, Reynolds wrote in his decision. If the state provides coverage for one choice, it must provide coverage for all options neutrally, he ruled. In addition, the fact that the program allows contraceptive coverage to prevent acne but not to prevent pregnancy illustrates an unconstitutional intrusion ‘into the most intimate of doctor-patient relationships’ — whether a person desires to become pregnant or avoid pregnancy, he wrote.”
