What editorial writers are saying about Planned Parenthood funding

Direct federal payment for abortion already is banned, but supporters of defunding Planned Parenthood claimed that taxpayer dollars indirectly lead to more abortions.

Attack on Planned Parenthood is an attack on poor women

Cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood actually would cut off millions of women from health care, including cancer screenings, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and, yes, contraception, which, arguably, is the best way to prevent abortions and help low-income women escape poverty. Already fear is spreading among poor communities. In California's Central Valley, women are calling their health care providers at Planned Parenthood in a panic because they see in the news that they might lose access to birth control. San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, April 12

"Never, never, never"

There are millions of people who, in the midst of two crises -- one over the budget and one over abortion -- are fit to be tied over the idea that they should be taxed to pay Planned Parenthood anything. More broadly, the issue is about our priorities as a nation. Even if one accepts the idea that abortion is a woman's right, a point on which many fine people differ, what is the best broad direction of public policy? The New York Sun, April 9

The budget news was good, but process was troubling

In the crisis averted, the fight began with cutting federal spending, and ended up trotting out old ideological canards. The GOP took a stand insisting it wouldn't budge unless all $300 million to Planned Parenthood was cut. The reason: a categorical untruth -- that Planned Parenthood's mission and funds are all about abortion. Surely, intelligent leaders know this is false. No federal funds support abortion. At least 90% of Planned Parenthood's work has to do with cancer screenings and pregnancy prevention. The Kansas City (Mo.) Star, April 10

A too-timid budget deal

Commendably, the deal will restrict the use of taxpayer dollars for abortions in the District of Columbia. ... But on the downside, Planned Parenthood, the nation's biggest abortion provider, will disgustingly continue to get federal funds. Technically, that money cannot be used for abortions, but giving Planned Parenthood tax dollars for services besides abortions obviously frees up its other money for abortions. Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times Free Press, April 12

Avoiding a senseless and costly shutdown

Although Planned Parenthood provides medical examinations for women, screenings for cervical cancer, counseling for couples and other services, that was not was this was about. It was about abortion. For this, House Republicans dragged out talks, leaving millions of federal employees in doubt when they left work on Friday about whether they were coming back on Monday. The brinkmanship also left in the lurch Americans planning to visit a national park or a federal museum, those who needed help on their taxes and many others who would be in need of the government's help. The Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat, April 8