Gov. Terry Branstad Backs An Insane GOP Move to Defund Planned Parenthood in Iowa

Governor Terry Branstad (R-IA) says he backs a “reasonable proposal” to defund Planned Parenthood in Iowa, even though federal money doesn’t pay for abortion services due to the Hyde Act and it is already illegal to use Medicaid money for abortion services in Iowa.

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Speaking about a Iowa House proposal that would bar funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion service providers, Branstad said he believes the state House has adopted a “reasonable proposal,” according to the Des Moines Register.

“I think that is the appropriate way to go, and I respect the legislative processes of working these differences out,” said Branstad.

On Friday, the Democratic-led state Senate added an amendment to the state House appropriations bill, striking the defunding language. The bill is now headed for a House-Senate conference committee.

Republican state Senator David Johnson objected to those who are against women’s medical autonomy possibly having to pay electrical utilities at a Planned Parenthood. Johnson argued, “It is time for us to understand that taxpayer money going to take innocent lives is just not the right thing to do. You don’t need a deep religious fervor. You can do it simply with human logic.”

If this sounds nuts, it’s because it is.

Think of if anti-war protesters refused to possibly pay any electrical bills of any organization that might support any part of a war – even say, 3% — even one whose main goal is to avoid war in the first place.

Planned Parenthood provides the two things that cut down on unwanted pregnancies: family planning and access to affordable birth control. Eighty percent of Planned Parenthood patients receive services to prevent unintended pregnancy.

But Republicans are still legislatively reacting to the debunked Planned Parenthood videos as a justification for imposing their alleged religious views on the country. (I write alleged because it doesn’t seem Christian to seek to harm an organization that does good work by using what has already been proven to be a lie and has landed its maker in criminal court, and in fact exonerated Planned Parenthood.) Life News headlined their article about this, “Iowa Democrats Kill Effort to Defund Planned Parenthood After It Sells Aborted Baby Parts”. That’s a no to logic and facts and a yes to lies and moving the goal posts.

Pointing out how ridiculous Republicans are being in their Planned Parenthood witch hunt, an Iowa State Daily editorial board column pointed out, “Only 3 percent of everything the organization (Planned Parenthood) does has anything to do with abortions, while 80 percent focuses on preventing unwanted pregnancies. But that doesn’t seem to matter to Republicans. Instead, our right-wing legislators would rather remove funding for an organization that seems to make it a priority to prevent the need for abortions.”

That’s how Republicans roll. Instead of actually solving the problem or addressing it or trying to prevent it from happening, Republicans are totally ignoring reality and facts, while trying to legislatively create a larger need for abortion services.

Republicans are pointing their fingers at Planned Parenthood to falsely demonize the organization in an election year, in the way that people who can’t be honest about why they are in office are wont to do.

Sarah Jones

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