Reader poll: Congress should quit trying to defund Planned Parenthood

Feb. 16--Area readers believe Congress should stop their efforts to defund Planned Parenthood after last weekend's show of support for the women's health organization, according to an unscientific Free Press poll.

Out of 519 total votes, 330 respondents -- about 64 percent -- thought Congress should quit efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Only 189 respondents thought Congress should continue.

After last November's election, the GOP-controlled Congress has discussed potentially cutting off Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood over its abortion services. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month cutting off funding to international groups that provide abortion-related services.

Planned Parenthood supporters showed up in droves to counter-protest opponents last weekend. In Mankato and St. Paul, supporter crowds dwarfed protesters.

The Free Press online poll, sent to readers Feb. 15, asked the question, "Planned Parenthood supporters outnumbered protesters at planned rallies in MN and the U.S. last weekend. Should Congress continue trying to defund the group?"

There were two answers to choose from, "yes" or "no."

Commenters largely supported Planned Parenthood as it offers a variety of health care for women.

"Planned Parenthood is essentially a much needed source of health care for many women who would otherwise have no access to such services," wrote Margery Lisle. "To reduce it to a single 'hot button' issue is merely a deceptive means of attacking the larger issues of providing insurance and medical care for the financially disadvantaged."

Some commenters took issue with Planned Parenthood's abortion services, however. One anonymous commenter wrote Congress should "defund murder" while another wanted government funding to go to other programs.

Still, the majority of commenters wrote in support of the organization and questioned Congress' wisdom in trying to cut off funding for health care access for women.

Kathryn Hansen wrote, "Congress needs to defund themselves as they can't seem to get anything right. No payment for life for knuckleheads."

___

(c)2017 The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.)

Visit The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.) at www.mankatofreepress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.