Wednesday, March 6, 2013

STORKS DON'T DELIVER BABIES? TEXAS GOP LEARNS NEW LESSON IN BIOLOGY (and public policy)

In 2011 Texas Republicans defunded Planned Parenthood for moral reasons (opposition to abortions) and because they wanted to save some money ($73 million). Great idea? Not so much.

It turns out that keeping information and practical planning solutions away from poor women only serves to keep them in the dark. And they're going to have sex anyways. New figures from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission predicts that between 2014 and 2015 poor women will have about 24,000 more babies. Yes, that about 24,000 more babies than if they had access to birth control measures, like those provided by Planned Parenthood.

Here's the kicker. The new babies will cost the state an additional $273 million, most of which will come from state Medicaid budgets.


Having learned more about human biology Texas Republicans are now considering a measure to spend $100 million for a state-run primary care program for women's health services. That's $27 million more than they were spending in 2011.

This would be hilarious if it weren't so serious. Sigh ...

- Mark 

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