Obama Budget Ignores Healthcare Needs of Millions of Women

I am deeply disappointed with President Obama's failure to strike government funding restrictions on abortion, particularly the Hyde Amendment, from his proposed budget for 2010. The budget does, however, propose defunding abstinence-only sex education and creating programs aimed at reducing teen pregnancy.

The Hyde Amendment bans federal funding for abortion in the Medicaid program except under extremely limited circumstances. The President's budget abandons the millions of women who rely on Medicaid and other federal programs for health services, including federal employees and their spouses and dependents, women served by Indian Health Service, women in the Peace Corps and in federal prisons. It appears to clear the way for the District of Columbia to use its public funds for abortion.

At a time in our nation's history when Americans at every income level are losing their jobs and their health benefits, guaranteeing access to affordable, quality healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, is imperative. For millions of women, federal programs are their only means of getting healthcare. Abortion is the only medically necessary health service excluded from Medicaid coverage. Failure to provide that service -- a service that only women need -- is discrimination.

President Obama made clear during the election that he opposes the Hyde Amendment. And for good reason -- over a third of women who rely on Medicaid and are seeking an abortion have been prevented from exercising their constitutional right to an abortion. Hyde unjustly impedes women's access to timely, quality healthcare and disproportionately harms those women who already face significant barriers to obtaining services. Sound public health policy means protecting the well-being of all women.

Congress should step up and eliminate all restrictions on abortion funding, which would demonstrate much needed U.S. leadership and commitment to the human rights principles at the heart of reproductive rights -- dignity, equality, and the ability to make reproductive decisions freely, without coercion or discrimination.

Congress should also strongly support comprehensive sex education in response to the president's call to eliminate the wasteful abstinence-only funding within the budget and fund education programs that have proven effective and research to further develop programs. The federal government has already spent more than $1.3 billion on abstinence-based programs. Another dollar spent on so-called education that values ignorance over knowledge -- no matter the amount -- would be wasteful and defy common sense.

Young people have a fundamental right to receive scientifically accurate and objective information in order to protect their health, including avoiding pregnancy and guarding against STD's. Our government shouldn't deprive our teenagers of that right and we, as taxpayers, certainly shouldn't be paying for it.

Numerous studies, including one authorized by the government, have found that abstinence-only programs do not work, either they fail to delay sexual activity among teens or possibly even discouraging them from using contraception.

The Center for Reproductive Rights urges Congress to provide federal money to support responsible sex education in schools, including science-based, medically accurate, and age-appropriate public health information about both abstinence and contraception.

Comments

[WindySailor]

I suggest that the women's lobby get its nose back in joint. In the first place, there hasn't been time to consider everything that is on their fantasy list. In the second place, why should it be the taxpayers' responsibility to fund abortions for the purpose of birth control? Those limited circumstances allowed by the Hyde amendment seem reasonable to me.

[harriscrl3]

ITs amazing to me that Obama has disappointed EVERY group other than Wallstreet and banks according to those on the left and those in the center. Of course if you ask Wallstreet you get the exact opposite answer.

Just yesterday after he restricted the day of prayer social Conservatives complain and Atheist say he didnt go far enough. He can't please everyone and its like folks think that he should. Its unbelieveable to me how unrealistic folks are. Sometimes improving something is the best you can get especially when its only been about 4 months. People scorn improvement like its nothing. He needs to go further its not enough.

Carol

[mikeant50]

Carol,

I have a simple answer. They didn't want a President, they wanted a liberal Yes Man. Someone like the last President did with his conservative based and bow to their every whim. Many only care about one thing, their cause. They can't see the big picture which is fixing this country.

[clevelandchick]

Obama used this issue on the stump to get women to vote for him and when he had an opportunity to do something about it, he punted.

It's hardly the first issue Obama spoke out on during his campaign that when had an opportunity to match his words with action, he CHOSE not to. There is nothing wrong with holding him to account for failing to live up to his word. It's called trying to keep him honest.

[ColumbusMike]

Yeah, I just don't understand why he hasn't fixed every contentious and controversial issue in a hundred days. It's not like he's had anything else to deal with. We all have issues that are near and dear to our hearts (mine is gay rights), and we all wish that he would concentrate on our issues immediately, but that is just not feasible.

I understand that we are an immediate-­gratificat­ion society, but I am "deeply disappointed" in progressives who are "deeply disappointed" that he hasn't fixed everything in 4 months. I've seen 11 presidents in my lifetime, and this one may be on track to be the most effective one I've ever seen. Yet all I seem to hear is griping by supposed supporters that he's not measuring up--all while we're making fun of the other side for eating their own. Seems to me like we're doing a pretty good job of that ourselves. Let's try a little patience, and if, at the end of his term, he still hasn't made any progress in addressing our issues, then maybe we can justifiably feel deeply disappointed.

[clevelandchick]

The time to fix issues is when they deal with them in the budget....­..it is clear that Obama had the time and opportunity and didn't take it. So save that pathetic argument that this issue isn't as important as the others....­.

Obama used the Hyde Amendment on the stump to get women to vote for him but when he had the time and opportunity to do something about it, he took a pass. Just because it's not an important enough issue for you doesn't mean it's not an important issue for millions of women.