This is a local story and a story that's likely to be replicated, which is why I'm posting it. It's about Planned Parenthood and "grassroots" politics.
More after the time warp.
This is the news to which I refer
Planned Parenthood of Louisville will receive federal money to provide family-planning services through June 30, but the Louisville Metro Council urged Mayor Jerry Abramson not to renew the contract.
Louisville is typically a liberal city in a red state. Most of the board members are Democrats and Mayor Jerry Abrahmson is 'Mayor for Life'. I'm starting to wonder, though, what kind of Dems these be.
That decision followed a contentious 11/2-hour debate spurred by the agency's support of abortion rights and the fact that affiliated groups perform abortions in some states. The Louisville group does not perform abortions.
Locally, there shouldn't be a problem since the Louisville chapter of Planned Parenthood doesn't even perform abortions. Whomever is speaking out in Louisville against PP is obviously speaking on a national scale and, as a result, making the very helpful local Planned Parenthood pay the price.
Planned Parenthood supporters on the council said the organization deserves the contract because it has done a good job administering it for nearly 30 years.
"I'm appalled," council member Mary Woolridge, D-3rd District, said after the vote on the amendment.
Woolridge should be appalled. This vote on a local organization that did not provide abortions was judged on its national organization that is pro-choice. The long and short of the story is, they're throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Planned Parenthood has provided the services to low-income people in Louisville under a federal law proposed by the Nixon administration. It was designed to ensure that all people have access to family planning.
Oh wait. This was proposed by a Republican?
The program, called Title X, provides testing, treatment and counseling for sexually transmitted diseases; contraceptive pills and devices; and family planning counseling.
Apparently "Family Planning" does not fall under the "Family Values" program.
Council members opposed to Planned Parenthood said they didn't believe it could meet that requirement. "Planned Parenthood of Louisville Inc. cannot provide neutral, factual and non-directive counseling as to methods of family planning," the amendment said.
As if they could. Or even as if they knew someone who could "provide neutral, factual and non-directive counseling as to methods of family planning." Is there another organization that can?
Engel, who sponsored the amendment, acknowledged later that the council had no evidence that the agency had failed to meet the federal requirement. But he said that it was his "belief" that, given its position on abortion, Planned Parenthood could not.
No evidence, but plenty of conjecture. Yeah, that's how government should be run.
Democrat Tina Ward-Pugh, D-9th, who favors Planned Parenthood, said she will work to end a practice in which the council can approve certain government contracts, including Planned Parenthood's.
Give her a shout out, please. Look it up. I'm too lazy.
Angela Minter of Louisville urged the council to reject the contract because she said Planned Parenthood has worked to reduce the number of African Americans through its counseling and abortion clinics.
Absolutely. Remember, abortions were down under the Clinton Admin and up during the current "results oriented" admin. Really? Who's more results oriented?
But former Jefferson Family Court Judge Richard FitzGerald urged the council to approve the contract, saying the agency with its counseling and other programs has helped reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. "I support Planned Parenthood's clinical and educational programs," he said.
Give him a shout out, too!
Engel started the evening pressing for a plan to cut funding from $161,433 to $134,528, prohibiting Abramson from contracting with Planned Parenthood next year and forcing Planned Parenthood to mail notices to clients telling them it could no longer provide the services.
Don't be afraid to give this guy a SHOUT OUT. Please, tell him he's a dick.
But Engel dropped his proposal for the notices and softened the language ordering Abramson to stop contracting with Planned Parenthood after an assistant county attorney said the provisions were illegal.
And Engel restored funding -- "as an olive branch," he said -- after questions arose about how his proposal would work.
Okay, don't shout too much. Apparently this guy doesn't know what he's doing.
hink