(NH) House bans funds for Planned Parenthood
A bill banning public funding of Planned Parenthood and other groups that provide elective abortions passed out of the New Hampshire House yesterday with a 60-vote majority, as Republicans rejected a report by the committee assigned to study the issue but fell short of the support needed to override a potential veto by the governor.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England says abortions make up only 3 percent of the services it provides and none of the public money it receives goes toward the procedure. The organization serves about 16,000 patients annually at six locations in New Hampshire, the majority of whom are low-income, uninsured residents who don't qualify for Medicaid.
"For many New Hampshire women, Planned Parenthood is the only affordable option for health care. This legislation puts at risk basic access to cost-effective, preventive services such as cancer screenings, breast exams, access to birth control and other disease prevention services," said Jennifer Frizzell, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England's senior policy adviser, in a statement after the vote. Last year, the all-Republican executive council narrowly rejected the state's contract with Planned Parenthood, but the federal government eventually awarded a $1 million grant to the organization after the state health commissioner said he was unable to find alternative providers.
Republican Rep. Susan DeLemus of Rochester was first to speak on the floor in support of the bill.
http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/305924/house-bans-funds-for-planned-parenthood?page=full
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