Women Lawmakers Prepared to Fight Efforts to Defund Planned Parenthood

COLUMBUS –State Rep. Nickie Antonio, Chair of the Ohio House Democratic Women’s Caucus, released the following statement upon the news that House Republicans included provisions to defund Planned Parenthood has part of the sub-bill on the two year state budget.

 “This is absolutely deplorable.  Not only have House Republicans stripped hundreds of thousands of impoverished Ohioans from receiving healthcare coverage by not expanding Medicaid, but now they are working to make it harder for woman to receive affordable preventive healthcare.  We have stood together and fought these extreme policies before and we will do so again.

 “This extreme agenda only hurts women and families by seeking to limit a woman’s family planning options and preventative care.  If House Republicans are truly worried about rising healthcare cost and the federal debt, they would stop these constant attacks on women.  Because for every dollar invested to help women avoid unintended pregnancies, $4.12 is saved in Medicaid expenditures.”

 In the last General Assembly House Republicans attempted to defund Planned Parenthood through House Bill 298. HB 298 created a tiered system for funding family planning health centers.  Planned Parenthood would have fallen in the final tier, only to receive support if there are funds in the budget after all other centers receive funding.  This plan essentially defunds Planned Parenthood, and with it, will eliminate access to healthcare for thousands of women who rely on Planned Parenthood’s services.