Family Planning Crisis

In the 82nd Legislature, the Republican-controlled Lege cut 73 million in funding from family planning programs.  Texas left the federal Women's Health Program, losing federal funding for family planning services because it banned the use of agencies that were affiliated with agencies that might fund abortion (define affiliated?) in a thinly veiled campaign to defund Planned Parenthood, even though no federal or state money is ever, ever used for abortions.

The Legislative Budget Board, however, has stated that these cuts will result in 20,000 more unplanned births and cost Texas more than 200 million dollars.

So now Texas has launched a new state health program to try to replace some of the services lost.  Pity that Perry and his cronies still won't let the agencies that have professional expertise and a good track record of providing these services participate.