Chuck Schumer: GOP Family Planning Cut Proposal Is 'Dead On Arrival' (VIDEO)

NEW YORK -- Senator Chuck Schumer said on Saturday that Republicans' proposed cuts to Title X funding for family planning, including the Pence amendment, which would strip Planned Parenthood of all federal funding, will be "dead on arrival."

Schumer spoke at the Rally For Women's Health in Foley Square in downtown Manhattan, an event sponsored by a coalition of reproductive health and women's rights organizations, including Planned Parenthood of New York and NARAL Pro-Choice New York.

House Republicans voted to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood on February 18, 2010. Republicans argue the Pence amendment (introduced by Rep. Mike Pence) is needed to block taxpayer money from being used to fund abortions, however Planned Parenthood is already forbidden by law to use Title X funds for abortion procedures.

In New York State, 49 organizations receive $10 million a year in Title X funds to provide reproductive healthcare to approximately 400,000 patients.

WATCH:

There are 68 Planned Parenthood centers in New York state, which would see many of their services endangered if the Pence amendment passes, including HIV and STD screening and testing, and cancer screening.

M. Tracey Brooks, President and CEO of Family Planning Advocates of New York State, a non-profit organization that advocates for full access to reproductive health care, said she sees Schumer as "a champion" when it comes to protecting family planning.

"If Pence goes through, it would cripple what New York is able to do. It would leave a significant hole in the state budget, and a gaping hole in the budget of the 250 health clinics in New York State, including our 68 Planned Parenthoods," Brooks said.

Some have argued that the Pence amendment is unconstitutional because it targets a specific group (Planned Parenthood) and others, including HuffPost's Ryan Grim, noted that social spending cuts will not make a significant improvement in lowering the national debt.

The New York Times pointed out that for every dollar spent on providing contraceptives to low-income women, four dollars are saved over the next year in medical costs for unplanned pregnancies.

Low-income women and others who cannot afford private health care will be the most affected if the cuts to family planning go through. But the Senate, where Democrats maintain a small majority, "moves slowly," says Schumer, "and there are certain times when that's a good thing."

Comments

[llstudent]

05:40 PM on 03/07/2011

Right on Chuck.

[ninetailedfox]

03:21 PM on 03/07/2011

Always about religion this is. Im really starting to despise christians. All christians. This really is irksome.

[reasonshouldrule]

09:44 PM on 03/04/2011

Thank heaven the dems are doing something of use in Congress. I can think of a lot of other things, too, that I hope they do. I say this as a liberal democrat, and it's meant to be constructive.

[rukiddingmerightnow]

03:28 PM on 03/02/2011

OK - so waiting for the legislation banning women's shoes...

[Ainsaade]

10:36 AM on 03/02/2011

Finally, Schumer stands up for something.

[Kansiov]

07:44 AM on 03/02/2011

One common fallacy is that banning abortions will stop abortions.

[paulsays]

10:19 AM on 03/02/2011

Although I agree, and I believe in freedom of choice. It is probably likely that legality increases rates of abortion altogether.

[strawberryjulius]

01:24 AM on 03/03/2011

That is actually untrue. Abortion rates do not go down in countries where the procedure is illegal. Women just have illegal abortions. In fact,1 in 4 American women will have an abortion in their lifetimes. Globally that number is 1 abortion per woman.

[Trittydi]

01:17 AM on 03/02/2011

Thank you from my entire family Senator Schumer.
*

[gsmp]

11:34 PM on 03/01/2011

Not one word about a jobs bill. Imagine that.

[Deni]

10:23 AM on 03/05/2011

The Republicans are too busy invading people's bedrooms to focus on jobs.

[gsmp]

02:04 PM on 03/06/2011

Good point.

[kingbarry]

09:22 PM on 03/01/2011

Well Charlie guess you need to offer up an alternative like all aid to NYC to offset the $$

[llstudent]

08:59 PM on 03/01/2011

Once again, thank God for the senate and Chuck!

[ninetailedfox]

03:22 PM on 03/07/2011

Thank God for atheism.

[llstudent]

05:39 PM on 03/07/2011

ya I am like Bill Mahar i don't know and you don't either.

[allengoldchain]

07:56 PM on 03/01/2011

hey Chucky Shumer.. what are the three branches of the government again?

[angel53542]

05:47 PM on 03/01/2011

good luck with shuttting down the gov.

[CalDemo]

05:27 PM on 03/01/2011

After posting a CIA World Fact report showing the US is 46th out of 224 countries world wide in infant mortality, a respondent theorized it was because the US reports abortions while other countries don't. CNN Health reported on a Save the Chidren's research in 2006, that 2 million babies die within 24 hours of birth worldwide and the US has the second worst newborn mortality rate in the developed world.

"Only Latvia, with six deaths per thousand live births, has a higher death rate for newborns than the US, which is tied near the bottom of industrialized nations with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia with five deaths per 1,000 births."

We can ignore the facts, or make them up to suit our arguments, but the fact remains the US does a poor job of treating our mothers-to-be and their chidren once they're born. Torpedoing Planned Parenthood goes against the grain of those of us who once believed in the American system of opportunity, fair play and humanitary treatment of all.

[reasonshouldrule]

09:41 PM on 03/04/2011

Wonderful information with lots of facts. Fanned and faved.

[hoosier96]

04:32 PM on 03/01/2011

Speaking of healthcare issues. Unless you want to end up in the ER, don't ever, EVER get between Chuckie and a TV camera.

[llstudent]

09:01 PM on 03/01/2011

I love me some Chuckie!

[rukiddingmerightnow]

04:29 PM on 03/01/2011

Every single thing that has come out of the house has been DOA. What a waste of money those clowns are