Texas to cut HIV prevention funds to Planned Parenthood facility

[SepiaAndDust]

In a letter sent to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast on Monday, state officials said the $600,000 annual grant set to expire on Dec. 31 will be cut off indefinitely.

The program launched in 1988 has administered more than 138,000 HIV tests and identified 1,182 people with the virus. It also tests for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis C.

"It's cruel to play games with people's health care," the Houston-area Planned Parenthood affiliate said in a statement, noting that the move was politically motivated. "Another provider will be hard pressed to fill the gap."

- Source

Honestly, I've given up on the democratic system. Too many fools, and too many politicians who pander to them. The US government should simply take over the governing of Texas.

 

[KitKatMatt]

I hate my state.

These people don't care about their citizens, and every day they go that much further into proving the fact.

 

[HannahT]

"We have the discretion to extend the contract and elected not to," said Texas Department of State Health Services spokesman Chris Van Deusen, without elaborating. "The services will be provided by local health departments in the area."

It's the political atmosphere at work I guess. Sigh.

Their local health departments will be packed instead it seems.

 

[Goonie]

Honestly, I've given up on the democratic system. Too many fools, and too many politicians who pander to them. The US government should simply take over the governing of Texas.

Good to see the pro-life lobby demonstrating their hypocrisy.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Well, hopefully they get a wake up call before their state turns blue.

If Texas goes Democrat, that pretty much creates a situation where democrats are unopposed, and an unopposed party is dangerous for everyone.

If you look at historical data about how Texas voting breaks down.
% of people in TX that vote Democrat.
Clinton - 37%
Gore - 37%
Kerry - 39%
Obama - 44%

If it went from 37% to 44% in a 15 year window, it can certainly go from 44% to 51% in another 15 year window.

Texas is slowly slipping away from the republicans, if they're not careful, they'll lose it.

And if Democrats own TX and Cali, they're essentially unopposed...which like I said, an unopposed party is bad for everyone.

The republican strategists really need to consider cutting the cord with the religious right, and taking a different path. It'll sting at first, and they'll probably sacrifice a few election cycles, but in the interest of the long term picture, it'd be the smart thing to do.

I'd vote republican if they'd abandon their religious ties.
I agree with them on about 75% of economic issues, and I side with them on business regulatory policy and guns. However, I won't vote for them (I vote libertarian instead) because I can't get on board with them allowing a book (that I don't believe in) to dictate their social policies.

In a nutshell, this picture describes my position

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

The source says nothing about where the money is being reallocated to.

 

[SepiaAndDust]

The source says nothing about where the money is being reallocated to.

Does it really matter?

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

Does it really matter?

Well, yes. How do we know they're not allocated to another organization what will do the same thing with them? Maybe they'll still be used for HIV prevention, just not though Planned Parenthood. Or if you don't care how Texas spends its funds, why start the thread in the first place?

 

[SepiaAndDust]

Well, yes. How do we know they're not allocated to another organization what will do the same thing with them? Maybe they'll still be used for HIV prevention, just not though Planned Parenthood. Or if you don't care how Texas spends its funds, why start the thread in the first place?

You can't just throw money at something and expect it to work. PP has been doing the HIV testing (etc.) for over 25 years. They have the equipment, the personnel, and the logistics in place right here, right now. Can some other provider say as much? Can the other providers handle the new load? The comments in the article suggest that they cannot.

Even if they do use the money for HIV prevention and testing with some other provider, the best result will be a very bad result.

 

[Sistrin]

The source says nothing about where the money is being reallocated to.

From the OP article, quote:

"The Texas health department is cutting off federal funding to a Houston Planned Parenthood affiliate for a nearly three-decade old HIV prevention program, officials said on Wednesday.

"We have the discretion to extend the contract and elected not to," said Texas Department of State Health Services spokesman Chris Van Deusen, without elaborating. "The services will be provided by local health departments in the area."

Well, gee. The services will still be available, just not through this particular PP affiliate. But I am sure there will be some reason why services still being available actually means thousands are going to die because evil Republicans.

In addition the Texas Tribune, which first reported the story, received corporate sponsorship from Planned Parenthood.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/12/tex...r-planned-parenthoods-hiv-prevention-program/

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

The point is that Planned Parenthood is not indispensable for anything. There is nothing Planned Parenthood does that other organizations can't provide.

 

[SepiaAndDust]

The point is that Planned Parenthood is not indispensable for anything. There is nothing Planned Parenthood does that other organizations can't provide.

You mean other than having the equipment, personnel, and logistics already in place?

 

[SepiaAndDust]

The organizations that will get Planned Parenthood's funds have that too.

No, they do not.

Planned Parenthood got caught with its pants down and now its going to pay the price. Those are the facts.

:snort: What, those ridiculous videos? Don't make me laugh.

[staff edit]

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

:snort: What, those ridiculous videos? Don't make me laugh.

Laugh if you want. The people of this country know what they saw. You didn't seem to be laughing at the consequences back in the OP.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The point is that Planned Parenthood is not indispensable for anything. There is nothing Planned Parenthood does that other organizations can't provide.

Can these other places that provide the same services handle the same volume? (that's the key)

A hot dog stand and a supermarket both sell food and beverages. However, if 150 people all need to do weekly grocery shopping, is the hot dog stand going to be able to handle that?

 

[Tallguy88]

Great news! Hopefully the funds will go to a more respectable organization.

 

[Armoured]

Great news! Hopefully the funds will go to a more respectable organization.

How is it " great news", especially before it's been confirmed where the funds are going, or if the program will even be maintained?

 

[dogs4thewin]

I hate my state.

These people don't care about their citizens, and every day they go that much further into proving the fact.

Well, if you hate it that much then move. I am sure that MOST laws are passed with votes from the people; even those that are not if you ( general) do not like how your state is run then vote to remove those people from office. So long as a person is at least 18 is not locked up for a felony (or otherwise legally procluded from voting they may vote. Also, I would be far from shocked if Texas did not at the VERY least try to seperatew from the union, anyway. They are in a good place for it. It is not as if they are in the mid- west. They are already at the Mexico border.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Well, hopefully they get a wake up call before their state turns blue.

If Texas goes Democrat, that pretty much creates a situation where democrats are unopposed, and an unopposed party is dangerous for everyone.

If you look at historical data about how Texas voting breaks down.
% of people in TX that vote Democrat.
Clinton - 37%
Gore - 37%
Kerry - 39%
Obama - 44%

If it went from 37% to 44% in a 15 year window, it can certainly go from 44% to 51% in another 15 year window.

Texas is slowly slipping away from the republicans, if they're not careful, they'll lose it.

And if Democrats own TX and Cali, they're essentially unopposed...which like I said, an unopposed party is bad for everyone.

The republican strategists really need to consider cutting the cord with the religious right, and taking a different path. It'll sting at first, and they'll probably sacrifice a few election cycles, but in the interest of the long term picture, it'd be the smart thing to do.

I'd vote republican if they'd abandon their religious ties.
I agree with them on about 75% of economic issues, and I side with them on business regulatory policy and guns. However, I won't vote for them (I vote libertarian instead) because I can't get on board with them allowing a book (that I don't believe in) to dictate their social policies.

In a nutshell, this picture describes my position

With all due respect, if you really look at the past 200+ years the Bible has helped with many of our laws ( even though more than one of the founding fathers were deist.

Moreover, there is a difference in opposing gay rights and disliking gays as people.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Does it really matter?

Yes, it will show what they value instead.