Thanks for the Endorsement

I almost completely skipped over the recent rant by Steve Fetter on how righteous the abortion decision is. Fortunately, I see he used my name so many times to identify me with the right for the unborn child to survive that I couldn't miss it. If identifying me and the Republican Party with the right for unborn children to survive was meant to be a slam Steve, please let me be the first to thank you for the endorsement.

Steve does not understand that whether a person is Republican or Democrat tends to be insignificant on this issue. It is indisputable that in Southern Indiana, most Hoosiers are pro-life. I regularly speak with Democrats who call themselves pro-life Democrats. Several of them are now becoming Republicans because they realize that their views on abortion cannot be justified with the stand by people like Steve who insist that the unborn child has no rights...least of which is the right to live.

Thanks Steve for bringing out the most callous argument in support of abortion rights your side has to offer. You say that children should be aborted because they are not wanted. At least you are honest. The statistics show that 99% of the abortions performed in our nation have absolutely nothing to do with any physical or emotional threat to the mother. Simply put, the mother does not want the child. And, our law authorizes unwanted children to be terminated.

Steve argues that a child is better off terminated than being born into a world where they are not wanted. Only so cold an argument could be used to support abortion as a remedy to crowded prison population and child abuse. To suggest that Planned Parenthood should be credited for preventing the need for abortion is totally absurd. Women go to Planned Parenthood for one purpose only: to determine the availability of abortion services. If they are seeking help in dealing with how to keep their baby, they turn to services provided by volunteer organizations like Choices for Women. And Steve, please notice that none of your tax dollars go to their agency. Planned Parenthood cannot say the same.

Actually Steve, I need to thank you for one other thing. Every time you rant about the rights of women to terminate their pregnancies, you reinforce the argument that where you stand politically must agree with where you stand morally. No one can deny the fact that the Democratic Party platform defends abortion rights and Republicans defend the right to life. The line is very clear. Every time you use arguments like the one you used in your article, you convince another Democrat that their Party has left them by choosing the moral low ground on this argument.

As I have said many times before, I welcome those on the pro life side of this argument to come join our Party and vote for Republicans. It isn't because we think we are morally superior. It is because we believe that it does make a difference what you believe and your politics should align with those views. I don't expect to see you joining us any time soon Steve.

Dave Matthews, Chairman, Floyd County Republican Party

An unwanted child wrote:

Dear Mr. Fetter,

I am commenting today because I am sick and tired of reading on and on ad nauseum that if women can only get abortions, then so many unwanted children wouldn't be born and neglected.

My mother tried to abort me and it 'didn't take.' So, I was born.

Growing up with a single mom (who eventually married and had one other child) who resented my presence in her life was not easy. I could tell from an early age that I was in her way and cost a lot of money. She groaned and complained about it all the time. I spent a lot of my early childhood hungry. When I went to school, I was so happy because there, at least, I got a free meal. While I was growing up, I found out all kinds of places to get free meals in Louisville in the summers and they were all at places I could walk. I spent a lot of time as a small child walking. Alone and usually barefoot.

When my mother married, she soon became pregnant. THIS little girl became the beloved of our mother's eyes. She has what she needs and her dad sees to her ever wish. She'll soon graduate from high school.

I, in the meantime, made it on my own. I graduated 14th in my class, went to college (paid for entirely by ME!), and am finishing up medical school. I'm going into pediatrics. I want to help ALL kids, wanted and unwanted.

My mother, by the way, ruefully admits that she deserves no credit for my successes and has told me the whole story of the abortion that didn't take. She and I have talked this out and we have a good relationship now.

Please stop talking about not birthing people who are unwanted. All we were was unwanted. We're not worthless.

Remember the unwanted children

Could it be that Dave Matthews, Floyd County Republican Party chair and others with a strong anti-abortion stance need to see the issue framed another way unwanted children!

Whether the cause of not wanting children is financial, a life situation, age, timing or any other reason, the child is not wanted. With the number of children that die because of neglect or by the hand of a parent, those children are not wanted.

What about our large prison population in Indiana? The people who populate our prison system were in the most part abused, physically, sexually or verbally. Yes, it's been proven verbal abuse is as damaging as physical abuse. Verbal abuse may not kill the body of the child, but verbal abuse kills the spirit of the child. That helps the child thrive and be a productive member of society.

Planned Parenthood Services prevent the need for abortion by education and services women might not receive otherwise. To cut finding for Planned Parenthood deprives women in this state with low income from receiving the necessary tools for reproductive services and the prevention of pregnancies.

That's correct, Planned Parenthood's main services prevent the need for abortion ... if women have the availability of Planned Parenthood services.

If Mr. Matthews wants to see a rise in the death of children by neglect or at the hand of parents, prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving funds. If Mr. Matthews wants to see the rise in our prison population 20 years from now, limit the outlets for reproductive services for women.

The issue is not about abortion, but unwanted children and the damage they are placed in.

If Indiana actually cares about children, then they would not lack adequate dental care in this state, plus other services. Let this state worry about those living children first.

Peace.

Steve Fetter, Jeffersonville

Party leader weighs in on abortion

Abortion. There are lots of topics we discuss that could be described as hot. In other words, they generate more division, more passion, more derision than any other topic you could choose.

The abortion topic is right there at the top. That makes me wonder why the News and Tribune chose it to "fall on their sword" over in a recent editorial.

Certainly, this hot topic will generate more discussion and controversy than any other. That can result in increased readership which might ultimately make more profit for the newspaper. It may be a smart business decision. But, taking one side of the argument unfortunately defines your paper and can alienate, in this case, half of your readership. At the very least, it sacrifices any claim you may have to being unbiased.

I asked one of our New Albany mayoral candidates how he justified his campaign with what he confessed to me was his stand on abortion. He rather naively told me he didn't think abortion was an issue for New Albany. I asked him to tell that to his constituents representing Choices for Women and Planned Parenthood.

What seems to come through loud and clear in these discussions is that the issue is polarizing. On one side, it is true that the Supreme Court has declared this procedure legal. Of course, if you actually read the ruling on Roe vs. Wade, you will find that the Supreme Court only ruled that it is a woman's "right to privacy" that would not be violated and that she has a right to do with her body whatever she wants to. The Supreme Court flatly refused to even consider rendering an opinion on whether the baby inside the mother was life or not. If they had ruled it life, of course, then they would have been obligated by the Constitution to protect it. Half of us believe that it is life while the other half insist that it is just a tissue.

I would ask those who would choose to judge our governor for his "irresponsible" actions in agreeing with the majority of our elected representatives to defund Planned Parenthood in Indiana to remember that his decision does represent the opinions of at least half of us Hoosiers. I would even go so far as to suggest that in our area where most Southern Indiana Hoosiers describe themselves as "conservative" that number is way more than half.

As the GOP chairman, I'm always amazed by Democrats who call themselves "pro-life." I always emphasize that your vote not only identifies you with an individual but with a set of beliefs that that individual and his party represents.

I would encourage each of us to return to an attitude that continues to respect the differences of opinions we all have without resorting to objectionable behavior to win our arguments. I would also encourage us ... as I have done many times ... to truly decide who to support and vote for this November, not just for what they can give us but for what they stand for and truly believe.

Dave Matthews, chairman, Floyd County Republican Party

OUR OPINION: Daniels Planned Parenthood call does us wrong

SOUTHERN INDIANA So much for calling a truce. Instead, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels decided last week instead to approve an assault on social issues by drawing his sword and thrusting it into the gut of every Hoosier who values any shred of personal freedom they have.

Daniels decision to sign legislation from the General Assembly withholding funding from Planned Parenthood may seem like an issue contained within Indianas borders. But every American especially women should be horrified by the prospect as he continues to toy with the idea of a run for president.

If Hoosiers have learned anything about Daniels during his time in the governors office, its that the dollar is king. From his overhaul of the states welfare system and revamping of its food stamp program, to ending collective-bargaining for public employees and privatizing a toll rode, Daniels has made decisions throughout his two terms as governor based upon the bottom line. Some people are OK with that, but normally you get what you pay for.

He is the CEO of the state and the decisions he has made are reflective of corporate America. He believes in privatization and bolstering the private sector, helping the haves get more and leaving the have-nots with nothing.

But you should not be fooled this time. Daniels support of this defunding measure is nothing more than an attack on women and public health; a war on Planned Parenthood to be sure.

This is what Daniels and others who support the legislation arent telling you: Planned Parenthood operates 28 facilities in the state. Only four of those sites offer abortion services. The other 24 sites offer thousands of Hoosier women and men access to affordable, vital preventative health care procedures and treatment including routine gynecological exams, breast exams, birth control, counseling and screenings and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Indiana Planned Parenthood spokesperson Kate Shepherd said last week the organization serves 85,000 patients statewide.

Only 6 percent of the services offered by Planned Parenthood in Indiana every year are abortion services. And federal law under the Hyde Amendment already governs that those services cant be paid for with any federal dollars. Shepherd said Planned Parenthood keeps different accounts for different types of funding the organization receives private donations, as well to ensure government dollars are being spent in ways allowable by law.

The organization also submits to audits to ensure the money is being spent appropriately. In other words, despite what Daniels and others will lead you to believe, your tax dollars are not being spent to pay for abortions.

If lawmakers are truly concerned with reducing the number of abortions, why would they support a law that makes it harder for women to gain access to birth control? And if lawmakers were truly concerned with bolstering public health in Indiana, why would they support a law that will deny thousands of women the only opportunity they have for cancer screenings and education and treatment related to sexually transmitted diseases?

This is the reality: People will never stop having sex. So, in an effort to push a pro-life agenda and bolster himself among his GOP cronies, Daniels is in effect perpetuating the spread of disease and forcing unwanted pregnancies on ill-prepared women. He is setting Indiana on a long, unhealthy path toward sickness, higher poverty and increased Medicaid cases.

As Shepherd said of the legislation last week: Its really short-sighted Its going to cost society one way or another.

To add insult to injury, Daniels isnt the only backward-thinking Hoosier higher-up in this case. U.S. Rep. Mike Pence who is the forerunner on the GOP side to be the next governor of Indiana has repeatedly introduced similar legislation on the federal level.

Thankfully, other states produce more reasonable lawmakers and the Pence Amendment, as its called, has repeatedly failed. (Although it came closer to passage this year than it ever has before failing in the Senate.)

Its disgraceful and, quite frankly, embarrassing that Indiana leaders are the ones leading the charge in this less-than-humane fight.

The governor is a staunch conservative who opposes abortion rights and gay marriage. This move is his attempt to amass support from the nations most conservative voters, which is apparently more valuable to the potential presidential candidate than the support of moderate voters who support responsible fiscal decisions but have more liberal social ideas.

And, as evidenced by his latest actions, shoring up support among the conservative set to further his own ambitions is also apparently more valuable to Daniels than his obligation to act in the best interest of Hoosiers.

With Obamacare on the horizon, won't these needs be addressed?

Planned Parenthood provides abortions at their clinics. The same clinics that charge the state of Indiana for their other services. All PP has to do to receive funding is to seperate the two facilities. The fees the state pays helps to pay the receptionist, the scheduler, the docs and nurses, the security, the janitor, the electric bill, and the upkeep for the same place that performs the abortions. Just do the abortions someplace else and you get your state funding back! It really is not that hard to do. Or is Planned Parenthood more in love with killing babies than providing health services for poor women and girls?

Hit that nail on the head. Thank you.

No, N-T, I'm not horrified about a Daniels run, I'm not feeling set back decades of years, and I'm glad Daniels signed the Planned Parenthood bill into law.

I'm a woman. I am a nurse who once worked in an abortion clinic.

Abortion is another opportunity for men to control women. I have witnessed hundreds of abortions and I have wished for many years that I'd just spoken up against it. I've watched young and not-so-young women come in for an abortion. Some say they're not sure they want to do this. Some give made-up stories of a future bright and full of promise, if only they don't have a baby in the picture. Some come in looking as though life was never good to them, as though they're doomed to commit yet another wrong act, since they're so bad in the first place. Many come in with a man in tow and HE nudges her to get on with it and go on in to the surgery. Some cry in the recovery room. I could tell you dozens of descriptions and hundreds of stories. Each of the children killed was unique and so were their mothers and the situation that killed the children.

Abortion NEVER frees a woman from anything. It apparently frees some men. But not women. Not ever.

I completely agree with you about the fact that people will always have sex. That certainly goes without saying.

However, so many young women are looking for acceptance, validation, and the warmth of a loving embrace, and it would help our society by a FAR greater measure if we were to address this issue as strongly as we march and write letters supporting and facilitating abortion.

Killing unborn people is NOT the answer here. Planned Parenthood needs only to take the stance that it will work to encourage young women to a life that can be better for herself and her children. This calls for greater effort and more work. It's hard to spend time trying to actually build girls up, rather than fix their problem (in this case, kill a growing child) and send them on their way.

In the United States of America, our girls have low self confidence. Studies have shown that in the Primary grades, around 90% of girls have confidence that they can succeed in anything they try to do. By high school, this number drops to somewhere around 30%.

Why doesn't THIS cause people to write letters and march against governors and legislators in statehouses across America?

We ought to be OUTRAGED that American kids have such a low level of self-worth. We should be shouting in the streets! Better yet, we should ALL, every one of us, DO something about it!

Bullying in our schools is rampant. Suicide among youth is up. School shootings have alarmed us all. Violence in our cities and rural areas is more and more frequent. Even here in New Albany, we've had break-ins where the perpetrator is brazen enough to meet up with the home's residents at the point of a gun!

And we're sitting here whining about abortion while our society is in real trouble. What a bunch of fools we've become.

Roger A. Baylor wrote: Just one question: Is this an editorial board opinion?

People... The economy stinks, every program is getting trimmed back, but PP is still operational! Cutting funding back for programs are tough decisions but it's being done across the board. I believe the abortion law changed so that you can't get an abortion after like 20 weeks, and that's what, almost 3 months? And if the mom's life is endangered, then of course it's still ok to get an abortion at any point. Stop your whining. And to say that 'Daniels is in effect perpetuating the spread of disease and forcing unwanted pregnancies on ill-prepared women.' Wow, that's almost funny. I think I know what you're trying to say but you need to open your eyes to the big picture. Yes I'm a conservative too but you know what, I open my checkbook every year and send PP a $10,000 check. Several others I know do too who are also conservative. I just wish people would understand that you can't spend money you don't have and goes for the government too.

Whoa! I thought I was reading the CJ but it was the Tribune. Other articles, and I am sorry that I can not quote exactly, have reported that the same services will and are available at other clinics.

Written by a true Liberal. The numerous amount of 'freebie' and 'handout' programs need to downsize. Governor Daniels has made many great moves for Indiana's forward economic movement. The State of Indiana has had one of the slimmest percentage margin of budget shortfalls of any State in America. When the Nation and its States were suffering through budget crisis, Indiana was one of the few States not to take a major blow to their economy. Why? Mitch Daniels. This article wants to consider serious future ramifications because Planned Parenthood Medicaid funding is cut then lists unwanted pregnancies and spread of disease as its consequences. Why should taxpayers and the government be responsible for the man/woman not using protection and sleeping around? Individuals must be responsible for the results of their actions. I've mentioned before drug testing should be assessed to any individual applying for Government Assistance. As taxpayers, we should want to ensure our moneys are being allocated to the individuals who are not participating in criminal and unlawful acts against society. Keep up the great work Mitch!

Here's a thought: if Planned Parenthood wanted to continue to provide those contraceptives, cancer screenings, prenatal vitamins, and so on, they can simply stop providing abortions. I'm fairly certain the funding would return.

Sounds to me like Planned Parenthood is using this as a political ploy to accuse opponents of abortion of 'hurting women.' Either that, or the 'liberals' are using it as a ploy to make women believe that the Republicans are hurting them. Planned Parenthood has been given plenty of opportunity to stop the abortions. Their refusal = their OWN demise.

BRAVO Tribune! I agree 100%.

I appreciate the story of the commenter who worked in an abortion clinic- at least you're coming from a place of experience. I don't agree with you, but I respect that you at least know of what you speak.

In college, I went to planned parenthood for my annual visits and for birth control (no, I wasn't sleeping around, either- though who cares if I was? Not your business.) I was not on insurance and this was the only way I could afford to pay for my care. PP found, and cared for, a potentially cancerous situation and I was able to afford it because of the sliding scale.

Only 3% of PP's services are abortion related. Yes, 37% of their non state funding comes from abortions- but the truth is, the gov't doesn't fund them. They are a cash only service.

And you know what? Abortions. Are. Legal. You may not like it; you may not believe in it; but, they are legal. Period.

Was my life saved by PP? Maybe, maybe not. But me, and people like me, apparently aren't 'lives' to Mr. Daniels. He'd rather suspend lifesaving care to millions of women just to make a political point- when that wasn't what the funding was used for to begin with. Gotta appease the conservative right wing base that he offended when he said that the marriage amendment wasn't on his priority list of things to deal with.

Jerk.

Sandy said ' The State of Indiana has had one of the slimmest percentage margin of budget shortfalls of any State in America'

Well, yeah. We also have some of the highest school closure/teacher layoffs in the country as well. That seems to sit well with you and your ilk. Don't worry though, all this conservative nonsense is only serving to fire up the left and alienate independents. You thought unions were bad before, just wait. Now they're fired up and will come out in DROVES to make sure conservatives don't get back into the White House and to hurt the GOP/Tea Bag party in both houses of Congress.

It's going to be fun to watch as we take our country back!

Interesting. I'm not certain that I have seen so much propaganda printed in the News and Tribune before. Most of which by the way is simply left wing lies. If PP would stop murdering baby's they would not have this problem. People will be fine even if PP failed to exist this very moment. PP gets traffic because its a free and easy choice, there are many other choices for people in need.

Something that everyone NEEDS to understand, this was NOT about defunding Planned Parenthood, it WAS about forcing these organizations to Stop spending Tax Payer Dollars on Supporting and Performing Abortions, which MOST of the population is against. It is Not MY responsibility to pay for an abortion for someone who has No Self-Control. If you are going to do the Deed, and want to End the Life of an Unborn Child, it is Not MY Responsibility to pay for it. ALL Planned Parenthood has to do to regain their funding is to END the Murder of the Innocents, then they get the funding back for all of the Good that they Do Do. They do A Lot of Good, but they just need to stop Funding the murder of the innocents with Tax Payer Dollars.

To A Woman:

Thank you for speaking so well for me and many other women who utilized the services of Planned Parenthood while we were young adults, trying to be responsible with our lives.

Here's what gets me - do any of these Planned Parenthood enemies even consider how many abortions have been AVOIDED because of the availability of reproductive health services like birth control through Planned Parenthood? You really want to get rid of that? Isn't that counterproductive to your beliefs?

Seems like those who disagree with the Tribune do so based on their hatred of abortions. Sorry to tell you, but our Supreme Court has ruled on that issue. Your opinion does not matter. Chancellor Mitch has punished thousands of women by taking away the 97% of services PP provides, in order to the immoral right. I wish you would have been aborted Mitch

Great piece, Amy. Planned Parenthood is a primary health care provider for women's health needs throughout Indiana and does an heroic job for women in poor, under-served counties.

Mitch Daniels deserves a failing mark in his approach to people who struggle with poverty, mental health issues,developmental disabilities and others. He refused to listen to those who tried to warn him of the consequences of his misguided effort to privatize welfare programs through IBM and millions of Indiana tax dollars were wasted,and are still being wasted, in cleaning up the mess. He attacks our education system and hard working teachers in another attempt to privatize. (Studies show that Charter Schools have no better outcomes than public schools, they just leave the poor and children with special needs behind.)

His administration is often many months late on payments to non-profit contractors causing risk to many basic services. Once again, this affects people in poverty, at risk children, the elderly and people with mental and developmental disabilities.

If Daniels cannot effectively administer basic services to the people in Indiana, how can he be trusted to effectively administer a nation?

I agree PP helps so many women and it is so sad to see that service attacked. I was 17 away at school and PP found cancer cells when they preformed my pap for free. I agree more than likley they saved my life. If it was not for PP I would not have received a pap smear and thank God I was able to take care of my problem. I was marred 4 years later and 6 years later I had a daughter then 3 years later I had a son. Thank you PP. I have heard that they are taking donations to keep the doors open and I plan on giving. We need to help women not keep them in the dark. Shame on Daniels.

I TOTALLY AGREE with the writer signed 'A Woman!'

Well, N-T you should be proud of yourself. You went from zero to completely partisan in less than 2 seconds. However, you know what the beauty in the drivel you just wrote is? You have the perfect right to be wrong. Enjoy it, because I know that thinking conservatives certainly will.

Oh, whoever the parrot is that wrote this should really get himself and Obama out of the knot they are in. Too much fraternizing and intimacy will kill your brain cells unless you come up for air every so often.

I am a law abiding citizen. if abortion is legal then I will not burn abortion clinics or stand on the street throwing stones. It is a moral delimma and I vote against it when I get a chance. I do, however, get sick that my tax money goes to support it. I get sick that my underage daughter can go to one of these places without my knowledge or premission and get things done or medicine given to her. I dont approve of abortion or going behind parents back when it involves my child's medical care. So I am glad that PP does not get funding from the tax money taken from me. If your the ones crying about this, then give your money to them to keep their doors open, Dont use mine.

Excellent opinion piece. As noted by others, Planned Parenthood does NOT use federal money for abortion. Mr. Daniels has shown his true colors, he's willing to kneel at the feet of the radical right, which should certainly be enough to disqualify the man for any higher office.

Ms. King you stated, 'Mitch Daniels deserves a failing mark in his approach to people who struggle with poverty, mental health issues,developmental disabilities...'. I disagree. But Planned Parenthood's answer to this is to kill those who may be born into poverty, or POTENTIALLY cause mental anguish to their MOTHER, or are just plain inconvenient to their PARENTS. Guess what. I was born into povertry. I caused my mother mental anguish as a child. I was inconvenient to my parents at times. May God forgive our nation for our love affair with death. According to the pro-abortion Alan Gutmacher institute we have killed over 50,000,000 so far, and counting.

And for those heading into their retirement years. Noted author and philosopher Francis Schaeffer said years ago that the nation that will kill it's inconvenient young will also kill their inconvenient aged. Something a former governor of Colorado avocated back in the late 1990's.

Those of you that use Planned Parenthood should have thought about your OBAMA vote before you cast it. His spending spree is the reason these things have to be cut and look for more programs like this to be cut. The STATE has to cut things due to the FEDERAL spending.

Did you ever stop to think what people did before PP at least up until the 60's ? Humm, it was called personal responcibilty ! Try the local drug store for contraceptives. Go to one of the many free clinics for check ups. I don't support clinics at least some(PP's) that tells pimps and rapist how to skirt the law. I think the Indiana PP remained open by contributions so that shows that tax dollars may not be needed. I support several non profits because I believe in them. So, get out your checkbook if you feel they should continue. If they would have stayed out of the abortion debate they would have been better off. Period !

Big picture thinking is needed here. Loosing four million dollars in state aid to a multi billion a year company is nothing.... it is probably resulting in a profit. Supporters who are angry will give more. Kudos to our legislature for standing up to this bully. Hopefully other states will follow suit!

Thank God Mitch Daniels is out of the running for our President. He has ruined the state of Indiana with all of his cuts and his threats against our teachers, firefighters and police just because they wanted their protection of a union. Daniels got out of the race because he knew he had no chance of winning. Most people in Indiana know what a liar he is. His only concern was to make a name for himself and then move on from Indiana. He is leaving our public school education in shambles. I only wished when he leaves, he would take the traitor of the public education, Tony Bennett with him. They make a perfect pair. They both, only care what is good for them. They do not care about the people of Indiana or our children. Again, there is a God!!!!

Defunding Planned Parenthood: What it could mean for abortions and Medicaid patients

SOUTHERN INDIANA A law that prevents state or federal funding for organizations or facilities that perform abortions wont have much affect on patients at New Albanys Planned Parenthood Health Clinic, unless theyre Medicaid patients.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels on May 10. Betty Cockrum, president of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, said the organization will begin hearings for an injunction against the law June 6 with a federal judge.

In New Albany, Planned Parenthoods Health Clinic doesnt perform abortions. Four of the organizations 28 offices across the state actually offer medication or surgical abortions and the closest office in Indiana is in Bloomington, about 87 miles away from New Albany.

The law, aimed at taking any federal or state funding away from abortions, may have effects on women who arent seeking abortions at all.

Medicaid Patients

Cockrum said whether New Albanys location will continue to take Medicaid patients depends on the ruling after the hearings on the injunction begin.

If we are not successful and we do not get re-established as a Medicaid provider, New Albany would not be able to see those patients as Medicaid patients, Cockrum said.

Cockrum said statewide, the law affects about 9,300 Medicaid patients at the organizations 28 offices.

But she said the New Albany office only sees about 71 Medicaid patients, which makes up about 2 percent of the total patients who use that office.

Ed Clere, Indiana State Representative for District 72, voted in favor of the bill when it came to the house. He said there are plenty of other Medicaid providers available in the area that the New Albany Planned Parenthood office serves.

I think we should be more concerned with making sure women are aware of and have access to those providers than continuing to focus on a single provider, Clere said. From a funding standpoint, I wouldnt be surprised if Planned Parenthood realizes a net gain. Im sure theyre exploiting this for fundraising purposes.

Cockrum said after HB 1210 was signed into law, many of Planned Parenthoods donors have been giving more money to them.

With those gifts, she said theyve been able to temporarily extend services to Medicaid patients.

But she said political leadership in the state have access to reproductive services, including pap smears, cancer and sexually transmitted disease screenings and pregnancy tests.

Cockrum said with about 800 other Medicaid providers in the state, those women should be able to find those services available to them.

She said one of the biggest downfalls to some of those locations, though, is that women would likely be put on a waitlist to see a doctor.

When youre dealing with pap tests and birth control, thats probably not the best option for those women, Cockrum said.

Marcus Barlow, director of communications for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, said he thinks PPINs concerns of losing Medicaid coverage are overblown.

He said the concern of women being unable to find other Medicaid options is cynical on the part of PPIN.

You'd be operating under the assumption that people are incapable of finding any family planning services other than Planned Parenthood, Barlow said. Youre making assumptions about individuals choices that none of us are qualified to make.

He said Medicaid patients are largely used to changes in their providers.

Were confident there is enough access out there, Barlow said. Our Medicaid clients are used to providers changing all the time, this isnt something new to a Medicaid client.

Abortion

Ed Clere said HB 1210 wasnt aimed at womens health care in general, but Planned Parenthood has a reputation that precedes it.

He said though he knew New Albanys Planned Parenthood doesnt perform medication or surgical abortions, he knows they provide referrals for them.

I wouldnt say that just because the New Albany location doesnt provide abortions doesnt mean its still not in the abortion business, Clere said. Even though theres no question Planned Parenthood provides womens health services, its primarily known as a provider of abortion.

Cockrum said though Clere was aware the Planned Parenthood location in his district didnt provide abortions, she wasnt sure other leaders in the state knew if their local offices did or not.

My guess is most of them dont know, Cockrum said. What they know is that they dont think abortion is OK and they feel a need to pass laws to make it more dangerous, then pass laws that will lead to more unintended pregnancies and abortions.

Cockrum said shes afraid defunding Planned Parenthood will actually raise the states rates of teen pregnancies and abortion.

We have 38 teenagers getting pregnant every day [in Indiana], and wed like that number to be closer to zero, Cockrum said.

The Planned Parenthood offices in Southern Indiana are fewer than in Central and Northern Indiana. Four locations are in the Southern part of the state: New Albany, Scottsburg, Evansville and Seymour.

Clere said he thought if there was more need for those services in this area, there would be more offices in Southern Indiana.

If its necessary for women to receive health care, why doesnt Planned Parenthood have a clinic in Clarksville or Jeffersonville, or between here and Evansville? Clere said.

He said though women should be made more aware of the health care options to them nearby, he didnt think writing a law to that effect was needed.

I think a lot of it is making them known in communities and neighborhoods where theres a lack of access to services, Clere said. The structure is already in place for Medicaid to provide womens health services. Just like defunding Planned Parenthood wasnt the original purpose of HB 1210, it was simply aimed at reducing the number of abortions in Indiana.

I think we should be more concerned with making sure women are aware of and have access to those providers than continuing to focus on a single provider, Clere said. duh... who, Mr. Clere, is focusing on a single provider???

Losing 4 million dollars to PPIN is like loosing a penny out of table-full of pennies. It's not a big loss. Kudos to our Legislature. Thank you for standing up to this bully.

The idiocy of this position, is that the legislature and Mitch, put no substitute in place for poor women.

I am proud of my home state of Indiana for standing up for the rights of the unborn. Thousands of baby Hoosiers may one day stand up and thank you. Also, some Pregnancy Resource Centers offer free pergnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, and STD testing. Go to http://www.optionline.org/ to find a pregnancy center near you.

I wish the Tribune would've asked PPIN some tough questions. Some examples:

1)You have said this defunding will adversely impact poor women in Indiana. Since only 28 of Indiana's 92 counties have PP offices, don't you care about the poor women and teens in the other 64 counties?

2)Though the local office doesn't provide abortificants, do you refer patients to Bloomington or Louisville for such services?

3)How many teen-aged pregnancies does PPIN recommend ending each year and how many of them are done WITHOUT parental permission?

4)Why doesn't PPIN just stop performing abortions at the 4 state locations and keep their Indiana medicaid funding? Why is killing babies more important than providing pap smears and other health info to poor women and teens?

5)Why is the STD rate and teen-age sexual activity rate now vs. when PPIN first began so much higher? Why are you so ineffectual with taxpayer dollars?

I would love to hear their answers to these questions. Feel free to use them!

Well, THANK YOU, once again, Ed Clere for telling it like it is. In fact, if it were so that the ONLY place 'poor women' could get 'cancer screenings' were at Planned Parenthood, they would be in every city of any population in Southern Indiana. However, Jasper, Tell City, Newburgh, Corydon, Salem...NONE of these has a Planned Parenthood.

If it weren't for the wisdom of leaders like Rep. Clere, the only thing anyone would know is the scare-tactic rhetoric of the liberal far left!

I'm proud to live in Indiana, where they move beyond the rhetoric aimed at keeping DOWN poor people, women, and other minorities!

It's very interesting that you posted a photo of Ed Clere on this story. Very interesting, and perhaps cynical, choice, Mr. Van Hoy.

It happens that the defunding of Planned Parenthood originated in the Senate, not the House. To look at this, you'd think it was Clere's bill.

I'm on a quest to read everything for myself and to look up all the facts, from original sources, as possible. Why? Because of the suddenly unreliable and slanted little actions of the editorial staff. As I see it, you're on your own quest...

This article seems fair and balanced, and I am very glad to see it. Some people seem to think the sky has fallen to see Planned Parenthood defunded by state government. What we're seeing is all kinds of people sending money in support of Planned Parenthood. I say, GREAT!

When our state is so strapped, and when the great lobbyists from the AARP and the ISTA won't allow any cuts from things for our older citizens and from our schools, cuts have to come somewhere.

Mr. Clere is very reasonable in all that he said. He is completely right that this wasn't aimed at women. The people who carry on that this is so are being reactionary. There are places to go to get cancer screenings, and it also looks like Planned Parenthood will find funding, probably from more reliable sources than the public dollar.

Your quoting Rep. Clere so extensively in this article reminds me of how wonderfully lucky we are to have this gentleman in the statehouse on our behalf, and I'm very glad you asked him for answers to your questions.

Nice article, Mr. Clapp!

I am a taxpayer in the state of Indiana and I am glad that a little less of my money is not going to Planned Parenthood by way of Medicaid. Unwanted pregnancies are unfortunate, but don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Why do taxpayers have to pay for someone else's irresponsible actions? Hey Planned Parenthood, there is one sure way not to get pregnant, or to get STDs and that is not to have sex. How about that? It is safe, simple, effective, and doesn't cost money.

I wonder if the President of Indiana's PP is a paid position and if so , how much ? Seems to me PP could be staffed by volenteers thus reducing the overhead !

I can not wait to move out of Indiana. Planned parenthood does much much more than offer abortion services. As an adult woman I have gone there for years and have never once seen or heard of abortion services. It's not like the force abortions on anyone!!! No matter if abortions are legal or illegal they will still be done. There are many many ways to end a pregnancy,as long as there has been woman on earth there has been abortions. It's my right to do what ever I want with my body,no lawmaker will tell me any different. KEEP YOUR LAWS OFF MY BODY!!! And since abortion became legal the crime rate has been dropping,that is a statistical fact that can be looked up! So I will fight for planned parenthood as long I continue to live and breathe.

Please,stop having offsprings!!! If you can not afford it or don't want them stop having sex or take the pill, use a condom. I am tire of paying for it! Also make it a 2 child limit on aid and any others you'd have to pay! My taxes should go for better city festivals.

Indiana Republicans do not have the courage of their convictions, may be trite, but it's true. If they did, they would go with the 'life begins at conception' and birth control is wrong. They would ban funding to all medical establishments that prescribe birth control pills or condoms. No money to Wal-mart, Kroger, Walgreens, or any of the pharmacies that provide the morning after pill. But the the people would wake up and see them for the deluded hypocrites they are.

We need to recall all the Republicans and many of the Democrats who do not have the interests of the people as their goal.

I am concerned about government funding being used to support abortion and especially about government funds being made available for abortion under the pending health care legislation.

I want to thank Baron Hill for supporting Rep. Bart Stupaks pro-life amendment to the House version of the bill. Any final version should include these restrictions on government funding of abortion.

Let us as a nation continue to preserve life.

Jim Goodwin, Charlestown

I would like to support the sentiments expressed by Jim Goodwin in his recent letter, Reader Worries About Abortion Funding. I agree with him that as a nation [we need to] continue to preserve life. And it is true that Congressman Baron Hill voted for the amendment to restrict government funding of abortion..for now. However, Id make sure to check Congressman Hills voting record on the issue before I became too complimentary about his stand on the issue.

It appears that our Ninth District Congressman isnt real consistent in exactly how he feels about abortion and government funding. In July of 2000, Baron Hill voted for an amendment that would strike language from the bill that prohibits using any of the funds it distributes to pay for abortions or the administrative expenses connected to any federal health plan that provides benefits or coverage for abortions. (ref: www.votesmart.org) In other words, previous legislation prohibited government funding of abortion and our Congressman voted to strike that prohibition from the bill. The house rejected the amendment 184-230, but Baron voted for it.

Earlier that month, Baron also voted for an amendment that would strike language from the bill that prohibits giving United States funds to any organization working overseas that uses its own funds to provide abortion services or engage in advocacy related to abortion services. Sure sounds like voting to use our tax dollars to promote foreign abortion services to me! Again, the vote failed 206-221.

In May of 2000, Baron Hill voted for the Oversea Military Abortions Amendment which would repeal a provision that forbids service women and dependents from getting an abortion in overseas military hospitals. Again, the bill failed passage 195-221, but I have to wonder how many of our servicemen and women he sought counsel from before he voted this way. Oh, and lets be reminded that Baron Hill voted in 1999 against the bill to prohibit any funds to be used by the FDA for the testing, development, or approval of any drug for the chemical inducement of abortion.

As I said, Im all for votes to prohibit taxpayer money from being used to provide abortions. However, lest we give Congressman Hill credit for being anti-abortion, remember his voting record above. I remember receiving campaign literature in the mail from the Hill campaign in 2008 in which he titled himself Pro-Life. It seemed inconsistent to me then. Viewing his voting record, Id say I had reason to feel so.

Dave Matthews
Chairman, Floyd County Republican Party