LETTER: Birth Control Must Be Affordable
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Affordable birth control is very important. Because of a simple
legislative error in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, implemented in
January 2005, college health centers and other safety-net health care
providers were cut out of the nominal drug-pricing discount program.
Prices for birth control have risen dramatically. More than 3 million
college students and hundreds of thousands of low-income women have
been affected.
Birth control is a basic health care issue for women. It has been
proven that affordable birth control is the best way to prevent
unintended pregnancies, so it seems to make sense that members of
Congress would do everything in their power to restore affordability.
It would be easy to fix this error at no cost by passing the Prevention
Through Affordable Access Act. Sen. John Warner could make a difference
when this vote comes up in the near future. I believe he would like to
see the rate of unintended pregnancies reduced. Here is his opportunity
to show his constituents his true feelings. I urge Warner to vote to
pass this legislation.
Anita Kozakewicz, Richmond
Contraceptive costs draw focus
by Anne Rassmussen
The Cavalier Daily at the University of Virginia
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
With college student health centers across the country facing price
hikes for contraceptives, the University branch of the group Voices for
Planned Parenthood, or Vox, is starting a campaign to spread awareness
of these cost increases on Grounds.
The ultimate goal of the University's branch of Vox is to
communicate with Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.,
about the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, the enactment of
which would address cost increases, according to Sarah Benckart,
president of Vox at the University.
Benckart said this effort to speak with legislators about contraceptive prices is not limited to the University.
"The objectives around the country ... are to raise awareness
and to call and lobby elected officials across the country to raise
support within the population and among legislators," Benckart said.
Prices for oral contraceptives have significantly risen since
the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 went into effect in 2007,
according to Benckart.
By changing how pharmaceutical company rebates are calculated,
Benckart said, the act has made it expensive for companies to sell
contraceptives at a discount to university student health centers. At
some institutes of higher education, such as Virginia Tech, prices for
certain contraceptives have nearly tripled from $14 to $42, according
to John Hunter, Virginia Tech Schiffert Health Center pharmacy
supervisor.
Prices have not increased significantly at the University,
mainly because Student Health's affiliation with the University Medical
Center has allowed Student Health to continue purchasing contraceptives
at reduced cost, according to Student Health pharmacist Marie Bailey.
Prices range anywhere from $14 to $65, depending on whether the
contraceptives are generic or a brand name, she said.
"I think our prices are pretty reasonable," Bailey said.
"They've been steady in the last year, and there are lots of generic
alternatives if you're looking for a lower price."
Bailey said Student Health has not seen variation in the number
of students buying contraceptives, but changes have been noticed at
Virginia Tech.
According to Hunter, many students have switched from brand
names to the cheaper generic contraceptives and are using their
parents' insurance to help cover the cost.
"We're trying to offer lots of generics and the lowest prices
that we can," Hunter said. "But there's a limited number we can offer."
Although he said generic contraceptives are equally effective
as the brand names, Hunter cautioned that contraceptives are
patient-specific, noting a doctor should be consulted before use.
Benckart said because prices have not significantly increased
at the University, many students are unaware of how the rising costs
are affecting others in the commonwealth and across the country.
According to a press release from Planned Parenthood, more than 3
million college students and hundreds of thousands of low-income women
have lost access to affordable birth control.
"On a practical level, it's important to raise awareness
because it may affect people when they go home on summer vacation, for
example," Benckart said. "On an ideological level, it's our belief that
these services should be available to everyone."
Benckart said Voices for Planned Parenthood at the University
will be tabling on the Lawn during the next two months to raise
awareness and encourage students to lobby Warner.
"We're going to continue to call and lobby elected officials," Benckart said. "It's definitely a priority."
LETTER: Planned Parenthood Merits Funding
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I write to express my concern that members of Virginia's Senate voted
to defund Planned Parenthood. This ideological effort to cut funds that
provide prevention services is bewildering and incredibly disturbing.
Planned Parenthood has taken a lead role in offering prevention and
lifesaving services that would otherwise be unavailable to some because
of financial status. In fact, this nonprofit does more than any other
organization in the commonwealth to prevent unintended pregnancy and
reduce the need for abortion.
Certain anti-choice members of the General Assembly appear to
continue to go after women's sexuality and health services in a blindly
punitive manner. I hope that this provides an opportunity for the
public to remind them to fund their values-proven prevention services
-- no matter the source of the service.
Mindy Louiselle, Richmond
LETTER: Legislators attack essential services
Charlottesville Daily Progress
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Shame on state legislators for their ideological attack on Planned Parenthood on the Senate floor.
The amendment
offered by Sen. Ken Cuccinelli to eliminate funding for Planned
Parenthood was a mean-spirited attack on a community organization
receiving funding to provide essential health-care services to
Virginia’s women, families and teens.
The services
funded by the state are prevention programs to provide family planning
services, including gynecological exams, cancer screening, pregnancy
testing, contraceptive services testing, and treatment for sexually
transmitted infections, as well as medically accurate education. No one
does more to prevent unintended pregnancy in Virginia than Planned
Parenthood.
Voters, and
women in particular, are really tired of legislators playing politics
with women’s health, reducing access to care and thumbing their noses
at prevention.
If these
legislators really wanted to reduce abortions, they would support this
program, which works to provide accurate education and contraception
and to reduce the need for abortion in the event of unintended
pregnancies.
Cindy Janechild, Albemarle County
Senate's Vote Sets Tone on Abortion; Planned Parenthood Could Lose Funding
By Tim Craig
The Washington Post
Thursday, February 28, 2008
RICHMOND, Feb. 27 -- The Virginia Senate voted Wednesday to cut off state funding to Planned Parenthood of Virginia
because it offers abortions, an action that could endanger hundreds of
thousands of dollars in state aid for women's health-care programs.
The
decision, a major setback for the Senate's new Democratic majority,
marks the first time in more than a decade that the Senate has decided
against giving state aid to the organization because of its
abortion-related activities.
The GOP-controlled House has long
pushed to cut off state aid for Planned Parenthood, but the moderate
Republicans who controlled the Senate until this year fought off the
effort.
On Thursday, however, all 19 Senate Republicans decided they would vote for the amendment sponsored by Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax), who is considering running for attorney general next year.
Senate Democratic leaders struggled for hours to defeat the amendment, but they were unable to stop Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-Prince William) from voting for it. Colgan's decision resulted in 20 to 20 tie, which was broken by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R), who voted for the restrictions.
"It's
because of my conscience, and I don't waver from that, as my colleagues
found out today," said Colgan, whose district includes western Prince WIlliam County. "I ran on a pro-life platform, and most of my constituents are pro-life."
House
Republicans have already deleted funding for Planned Parenthood in
their version of the budget. With the Senate's vote, it could be up to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to decide whether he wants to try to remove the amendment after the final budget lands on his desk next month.
After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw
(D-Fairfax) warned that the Senate was setting a bad precedent of
singling out organizations because of ideological differences.
"Once we start down this road, there will be no stopping," Saslaw said.
Cuccinelli
said there has traditionally been $250,000 to $500,000 in the budget
for programs operated by Planned Parenthood that are not related to
abortion services. Cuccinelli said, however, that Planned Parenthood
was not restricted in how it spends some of the money it receives,
which he said could result in funds being used to subsidize abortions.
"What we are doing is financing an abortion-mill operator," Cuccinelli said. "This will deny them that money."
Sen. Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax) said that Planned Parenthood provides "contraceptive planning which prevents abortions."
"The irony is, Planned Parenthood probably prevents more abortions than any other organization in the country," Howell said.
Planned Parenthood officials could not be immediately reached for comment. Delacey Skinner,
Kaine's communications director, said some of the state aid for Planned
Parenthood goes for programs that it operates at juvenile correction
facilities to teach pregnancy prevention.
Planned Parenthood also
gets state aid to run programs to prevent HIV, she said. The
organization also gets some funds for providing health care to
low-income women.
"The funding that goes to Planned Parenthood is
going to fund teen pregnancy programs as well as pass-through for a
variety of health-care procedures for low-income women," she said.
Nevertheless, the GOP
effort to push the amendment through the Senate represents a major
defeat for the Senate Democratic majority as it prepares to battle with
the House over the budget in the remaining days before lawmakers
adjourn March 8.
Earlier Wednesday, Senate Democrats vowed to
stay in session past March 8 unless the House abandons plans to
recalculate how public schools are funded.
In developing their
proposal to meet the state's Standards of Quality, House Republicans
are rewriting some funding formulas to try to save the money, Virginia
Education Association officials said.
In its version of the
2008-2010 budget, House Republicans are proposing changes to the
formula for the Standards of Quality, a constitutional requirement that
requires schools' funding be readjusted every two years.
Teachers
unions and local governments oppose the change, saying it will set back
a decades-long efforts to better align teachers' salaries statewide
with the national average.
If the House plan is approved, there
would be $227 million less in state aid for teachers' salaries by the
2010-2012 budget, said Robert B. Rotz, division chief for the Joint
Legislative Audit Review Committee.
Legislative auditors also raised questions about whether the proposed change violates the state constitution.
"I
am geared and ready for battle," Howell said after Rotz's presentation.
"I am ready to fight. If this were to pass, this would be the single
greatest blow to public education in my 16 years down here."
Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News)
countered that House Republicans are trying to save taxpayers money by
making local governments pick up more of the share when they decided to
give teacher pay raises greater than those approved by the General
Assembly.
"Why should the state be reimbursing for what is basically an unfunded obligation from the localities?" Hamilton said.
Hamilton
said the proposed 2008-2010 House budget includes an additional $1.1
billion for public education, including a proposed 2 percent increase
in teachers' salaries later this year.
"The bottom line is this budget increases funding for education," Hamilton said.
LETTER: Lawmakers wrong to silence bills
Charlottesville Daily Progress
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Feb.
13 was Crossover Day, the final deadline for working on bills before
the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates exchange legislation.
Two committee
chairs in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates, Del. David Albo
and Del. Robert Tata, have refused to allow either voting or discussion
on several measures that would help thousands of men, women, families
and teens have access to family planning services and comprehensive
family life education
HB 1071, the
Birth Control Protection Act, was a simple bill that would define birth
control in the Code of Virginia as “contraceptive methods that are
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”
HB 283 and HB
1403 were straightforward bills that would have ensured communication
with parents about what is being taught in Family Life Education
programs and added contraception to the code section on Family Life
Education.
Denying these bills a proper hearing is unconscionable and an obstruction of the democratic process.
While Planned
Parenthood’s prevention initiatives aimed at reducing unintended
pregnancies and improving the quality of family life education were
silenced, this same group of legislators had no trouble giving
extensive time and debate to anti-choice bills aimed at restricting
access to abortion and other health-care services.
Sadly, “pro-life” legislators are, too often, also anti-contraception.
Legislators who truly want to reduce the need for abortion should put prevention first.
Jane Williamson, Albemarle County
Twice
this month Lynchburg police have received complaints about pro-life
demonstrators videotaping women entering the Planned Parenthood clinic
on Langhorne Road.
Planned
Parenthood, which has centers in Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Roanoke
and Blacksburg, called the behavior "intimidating and harassing."
The
coordinator of the demonstration - a local outcropping of a national
prayer-focused campaign named "40 Days for Life" - said they were
operating within the law.
"Our
signs have a clear message that we're not using violent means (to
express our opinions). We're opposed to violence," organizer Kevin
Giedd said, referencing the small placards held by participants that
read "Pray to End Abortion."
40
Days for Life, as its name suggests, consists of 40 days spent keeping
quiet vigil outside a pro-choice organization and praying for an end to
legalized abortion. The campaign started Feb. 6 and will end March 16.
This is the first year Lynchburg has participated, Giedd said.
"I'm
happy to have the police come out here," he said. "Because I think once
they see there's not much going on, they'll understand. ... I want them
to know I'm with them on this."
At
the start of the 40 days, Giedd notified both Planned Parenthood and
the Lynchburg Police Department of his plans. He in turn received from
the police a copy of the city's demonstration laws. None of those rules
specifically prohibit the videotaping of people, he noted.
Giedd,
the most frequent face at the vigil post near the corner of Langhorne
and Tate Springs roads, acknowledged he had been videotaping people
visiting the center. He had specifically focused on those driving cars
with Liberty University stickers, he said, with the intention of
turning the tapes over to the school for further investigation.
LU administrators said they were unaware of Giedd's actions and would not look into any tapes that were submitted.
"We
have no interest in pursuing some tape dropped into our mail or plopped
in our laps of a LU car at Planned Parenthood," said Barry N. Moore,
the vice president of university relations. "We don't have any interest
in tracking down license plates or anything else from things like this."
LU,
which Giedd is a graduate of, does have a code of conduct that calls on
its 10,000 or so students to be "responsible members of the Christian
community."
Having
an abortion is considered one of the more serious transgressions and
can earn a student 30 "reprimands," which is punishable by community
service, a fine and possible expulsion, although LU officials couldn't
recall the latter penalty being exercised in recent history.
Students are given a grace period in which they can report themselves in order to begin the "healing process," Moore said.
"These
sorts of things are not nonchalant situations to us. They're very
serious to us," he said. "But, we love our students and we want to help
our students. ? We have compassionate rules."
The
Planned Parenthood in Lynchburg does not perform abortions. Its
services instead focus on efforts such as prescribing birth control and
treating sexually transmitted diseases. Abortions can be obtained at
Planned Parenthood health centers in Charlottesville and Roanoke.
Becky
Reid, a grassroots organizer for Planned Parenthood Health Systems
operating out of Charlottesville, called Giedd's actions "extremely
reprehensible."
"I
think most people recognize this is a very extreme and inappropriate
way of expressing your views," she said, "Everyone has a right to
different views and to express them, but people also have a right to
access safe, legal preventative health care."
Police spoke to demonstrators as recently as Monday afternoon and told them to stop the videotaping.
Lynchburg
has no specific law against videotaping people in public, said City
Attorney Walter Erwin, as long as it is not done in a harassing or
threatening manner, and does not impede a person's access to a public
area. Someone who feels aggrieved by being taped could also possibly
file a civil suit claiming "infliction of emotional distress," he noted.
"It's
our officers' job to prevent people from intimidating or frightening
other people from exercising their rights," Erwin said. "At the same
time, just because you don't like it (being taped) doesn't mean it
can't be done."
Ultimate
determination of what is or is not legal behavior is something "the
courts have to sort out," he added. Erwin did not specifically address
the Planned Parenthood situation, as he was unaware of the
circumstances there.
Giedd,
who stressed the message of the 40 Days campaign was non-threatening,
said he was undecided about what action to take following the police
officers' order. Another officer who responded to an earlier complaint
about the videotaping told them they were not breaking the law, he said.
"The
Lynchburg police have generally been very good," he said. "Usually,
every time a police or sheriff's car drives by, I wave at them and they
wave and smile back at me."
LETTER: The Senate Defeated a Sensible Bill on Sex Education
The Roanoke Times
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Senate narrowly defeated SB 155 (17-22), a simple bill that
would have amended the code of Virginia to include "the use of
FDA-approved methods of contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy,
along with abstinence and disease prevention" in family life education
programs. The guidelines in this bill were developed with input from
public school staff, state agencies, parent groups and not-for-profit
organizations that provide family life services.
No Republican senators supported this simple, common-sense measure.
The chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee voted against
the bill. What does that mean for the future of reproductive health in
Virginia?
Research shows that teens who receive comprehensive sexuality
education that includes discussion of abstinence and contraception are
more likely than those who receive abstinence-only messages to delay
sexual activity and to use contraceptives when they do become sexually
active.
I am disheartened by the defeat of such a common-sense prevention
measure. In light of the growing body of research showing the failures
of abstinence-only programs, it seems all legislators should be able to
agree on the importance of providing medically accurate information
about pregnancy and disease prevention.
Rebecca Murray, Willis
Abstinence-Only Sex-Ed Funds Cut Off by Kaine
By Tim Craig
The Washington Post
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has cut off state funding for abstinence-only sex education programs, citing recent studies finding that teenagers should also be taught about birth control and condoms to protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Kaine (D) submitted plans last month to close a budget shortfall in
part by eliminating a $275,000 matching grant for a federal program
that provided funds for 14 nonprofit groups that taught abstinence only.
Delacey
Skinner, Kaine's communications director, said the governor believes
that effective sex education programs must include information about
contraceptives as well as abstinence.
"The governor supports
abstinence-based education, but the governor wants to see us funding
programs that are evidenced-based," said Skinner, who added that Virginia will now offer "more comprehensive" sex education.
Kaine's
decision affects only organizations that offer federally funded sex
education courses, which the Bush administration has restricted to
abstinence-only programs. School systems and organizations that did not
receive the funding will still be able to teach a locally based sex
education curriculum.
Planned Parenthood of Virginia, which had lobbied for the change in policy, sent out a
statement Monday praising Kaine for joining its nationwide campaign to
eliminate abstinence-only programs, which urge youths to refrain from
sex until marriage.
"There is no evidence that abstinence-only
programs equip teens with the education they need to delay sexual
activity or prevent unintended pregnancies or the spread of sexually
transmitted disease," said Becky Reid, an organizer for Planned
Parenthood Health Systems.
With the move, Virginia becomes the 14th state to refuse to support abstinence-only education.
Several
social conservatives reacted angrily, accusing Kaine and Planned
Parenthood of hiding his decision until after the Nov. 6 election.
Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) said he will try to get the General Assembly to reverse Kaine's decision when it convenes in January.
"The
longer you delay the commencement of sexual activity, you have
healthier and happier kids and more successful kids," said Cuccinelli,
a conservative who beat his Democratic challenger this year by 92
votes, pending a possible recount.
Conservative House members also said they would try to block Kaine's move.
"When it comes to sex, Democrats can't think straight," Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) said.
Reid
said last week's election, in which Democrats took control of the state
Senate and made gains in the House, confirms that voters support
Kaine's approach.
"People are tired of ideology. We want
common-sense approaches to issues," Reid said. "Governor Kaine took a
common-sense approach. We have a budget shortfall. This program has not
shown to be effective in any way."
Reid and Skinner cited a study
released in April that was commissioned by Congress. In the study,
Mathematica Policy Research Inc. concluded that students in
abstinence-only programs had similar numbers of sexual partners and
first had sex at the same age as those who did not participate in the
programs.
Victoria Cobb, executive director of the Family Foundation, countered that the Virginia Department of Health conducted a study last year that found a majority of teenagers agree with abstinence-only sex education.
Cobb
accused Kaine, who is Catholic, of "making a payoff" to Planned
Parenthood because the group traditionally favors Democratic candidates.
"It
is extremely disappointing that Governor Kaine, who ran claiming to be
a moderate and touted his faith, has chosen to get in bed with a group
like Planned Parenthood," Cobb said.
Marshall questioned why Planned Parenthood did not announce Kaine's decision until after the election.
"It really shows where the governor's priorities are," Marshall said.
But Skinner noted that Kaine's budget amendments have been public for six weeks.
"Maybe they should actually read the documents we put out," Skinner said.
God takes mysterious stance
By Bryan McKenzie
Charlottesville Daily Progress
Saturday, November 3, 2007
God, they say, works in mysterious ways: Inside and outside of Charlottesville’s Planned Parenthood, He’s sent forth his minions into the abortion debate.
LETTER: Senator Protects Family Planning
By Rachel Thielmann
Charlottesville Daily Progress
Friday, November 9, 2007
LETTER: Tell the truth about abstinence
By Cheryl Borgman
The Hook
Thursday, May 31, 2007
LETTER: Abstinence-only ed doesn't work
By Virginia Glenn
The Hook
Thursday, May 31, 2007
LETTER: Support REAL sex education
By Mira Signer, Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
The Daily Press
Friday, May 25, 2007
LETTER: Abstinence-only plan not effective
By John Dumm
The Daily Progress
Tuesday, May 16, 2007
LETTER: Sex education needed for teens
By Rebecca Schmidt, Educator and Becky Reid, Grassroots Organizer at Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge
Charlottesville Daily Progress
Sunday, May 5, 2007
No-sex ed: Abstinence-only aims for local support
By Lucie Stone
The Hook
Thursday, May 3, 2007
In the cut-throat world of nonprofit fundraising, where money means survival, the pro-life Pregnancy Centers of Central Virginia won the jackpot in 2006: the federal government coughed up more than $645,000 to help them teach abstinence-only sex ed to central Virginia youth.
LETTER: Court's Decision Endangers Women
By Devan Barber
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
April 18 was a dark day for women's health and safety. The United States Supreme Court upheld a federal abortion ban passed by Congress in 2003. While this ban claims to prohibit only certain methods of abortion performed late in pregnancy, in reality its wording calls into question many methods used in the early second trimester that are deemed safe and effective by doctors across America.
Groups tout opposing plans for sex education in schools
By Brian McNeill
Charlottesville Daily Progress
Friday, April 27, 2007
A small group of parents and students from the Charlottesville area rallied alongside U.S. 29 on Thursday to denounce abstinence-only sex-ed lessons in Central Virginia school systems.
Clinic giving away doses of Plan B contraceptive
By Tammie Smith
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Planned Parenthood is giving away free packs of emergency contraception pills today as part of a national effort called "Back Up Your Birth Control Day."
Picket payday: Planned Parenthood one-ups protesters
By Courtney Stuart
The Hook
Thursday, March 1, 2007
"Save the baby," call the protesters in front of Planned Parenthood to a woman arriving in the center's Hydraulic Road parking lot. "We're praying for you!" they shout, and several make the sign of the cross.
Bill Would Protect Birth Control Pills
By Joe Rogalsky
DC Examiner
Friday, January 19, 2007
Legislation announced Thursday in Richmond would prevent birth-control options from being regulated by Virginia's abortion laws.
Define birth control, bill urges
By Tammie Smith
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Friday, January 19, 2007
Medical students Jennifer L. Buckley and Uppinder Mattu think women should be able to make their own choices about preventing pregnancy.
Women's Rights Challenged Once Again
By Courtney Hall
C-ville Weekly
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Some State lawmakers are dead set on restricting women’s access to contraceptions and abortions, introducing legislation year after year to do just that.
LETTER: We Can Prevent Cervical Cancer
By Jatrice Martel Gaiter, President / CEO, Planned Parenthood Metropolitan Washington
The Washington Post
Saturday, January 13, 2007
As an African American woman, the daughter of a cervical cancer survivor and president of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, I strongly disagree with columnist Courtland Milloy's uninformed and misguided assertions about a mandatory HPV vaccine program in the District [Metro, Jan. 10].
Marshall introduces bill to ban abortion
By LILLIAN KAFKA
Potomac News
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, introduced a bill Monday that would ban abortions in Virginia if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 decision legalizing the procedure. |