'Women Would Be Hurt' if N.C. Planned Parenthood Cuts Take Effect, New York Times Editorial States

July 9, 2012 — "The conservative assault on Planned Parenthood that began a year ago when the Republican-led House of Representatives tried to cut off any federal aid to the organization has been followed by a slew of similar attacks at the state level," a New York Times editorial states. Most recently, the North Carolina Legislature voted to override Gov. Bev Perdue's (D) veto of "a flawed budget" that "would take away roughly $200,000 from Planned Parenthood clinics in the state."

Although the North Carolina budget "does not refer to Planned Parenthood by name," it prevents "the state's Health and Human Services Department from contracting with 'private providers' of family planning services," the editorial explains. "Planned Parenthood is the only outfit that fits that category, a ploy unlikely to fool a court" into believing that the provision is not singling out the organization, the editorial adds.

The editorial notes that a federal judge blocked similar provisions in last year's budget from taking effect, ruling "that a state may not target a particular health provider because it advocates for abortion rights and provides abortions using its own money."

The editorial continues, "If left to stand, the cut in financing ... would not reduce the number of abortions (they are not financed by state money) and could actually increase abortions by making affordable contraception less available." The editorial adds, "What is certain is that women would be hurt, and Planned Parenthood's ability to provide birth control, cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and other health services for low-income clients would be badly impaired" (New York Times, 7/6).