Salem State Community Discusses Potential Defunding for Planned Parenthood

On March 30, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence made a tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate, sending a bill to President Donald Trump that would give permission to states to withhold funds from abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood. If the bill is signed, it would have major effects for women living in states with strict abortion laws such as Kansas, making it extremely difficult for women to make their own decisions about family planning, and their bodies.

Dr. Cindy Vincent, Communications Department
“I’m not surprised. I think Pence has an aggressive anti-women campaign, even though it’s not framed that way. The meaning behind a lot of the issues he’s pushing forward, the agendas, the policies he’s pushing for, directly attack women a lot of the time. This was to be expected,” said Vincent.

Casey Stead, Business major
“I think that there’s no point in defunding Planned Parenthood because the people making the decision aren’t affected by Planned Parenthood, and having a child is life-altering,” said Stead.

Professor Michael Goldman, Communications Department
“It’s a law created without a problem… the fact is that the federal government has not been able to pay for abortions for thirty years. It’s a perfect example of Republicans failing an important issue like healthcare and trying to convince their base that they are doing government work,” said Goldman.

Chris Reynolds, Math major
“I support women’s rights fully, and I believe women should have access to the best healthcare possible, whether it be through Planned Parenthood or the local hospital. If Planned Parenthood is defunded, then another source of medical treatment should be made available for women,” said Reynolds.