I’ve got more bad news out of Arizona. But first, some background — just in case you haven’t been following the reproductive assault that is currently going on in Arizona.
In mid-March, I wrote that Arizona was really close to defunding Planned Parenthood:
The Arizona Senate Committee on Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform approved HB 2800 which strips state funding from any group (like Planned Parenthood) that performs abortion even though existing state law and the fucking Hyde Amendment already prohibit the use of state/federal funds for abortion.
In mid-April, I wrote that Arizona was really really close to defunding Planned Parenthood.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Arizona’s attempt to defund Planned Parenthood:
The Arizona Senate Committee on Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform approved HB 2800 which strips state funding from any group (like Planned Parenthood) that performs abortion even though existing state law and the fucking Hyde Amendment already prohibit the use of state/federal funds for abortion.
Well, on April 12, the Arizona Senate gave preliminary approval to the bill. The Senate is expected to pass it, and Jan Brewer is expected to sign it. As a result, Arizona will go the way of both New Hampshire and Texas, and will be dropped from the Medicaid program.
For a manufactured fake war, the war on women sure does feel very real, don’t you think?
Now it’s May, and Arizona has succeeded in defunding Planned Parenthood (it won’t take effect until August, and lawsuits have already been filed.)
SIGH.
Earlier this month, Governor Brewer signed the pithily named “Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act,” which bans funding for family planning and health services delivered by organizations offering abortion — organizations like Planned Parenthood, even though existing state law and the fucking Hyde Amendment prohibit the use of state/federal funds for abortion.***
This bill seeks to prevent Planned Parenthood from getting money even indirectly. Of course, those primarily impacted by this legislation are low-income women:
Planned Parenthood has 14 locations around the state serving some 40,000 patients every year. They say one in five women come to them for abortion services and as a result lawmakers opposed to abortion are also opposed to funding Planned Parenthood.
“It’s another assault on Planned Parenthood being there for women but it’s not going to be a successful one,” said Bryan Howard, CEO of Planned Parenthood.
House Bill 2800 will ban the state from using public money to contract with an organization that includes abortions in its services.
“What we are seeing is an assault on women making their own decisions about health care whether it’s abortion or health care,” Howard added.
He says House Bill 2800 primarily affects 4,000 women living below the federal poverty level and on AHCCCS.
“It makes it harder for women to access birth control, hard for women to access cancer screening and abortion care,” said Howard.
[read the rest at TRS-ABLC]
taylormattd
It’s time for baseball to stop shipping its teams to that fucking state for spring training.
Richard
No doubt, the money saved by letting women die will go into increased funding of privately run prisons.
MeDrewNotYou
I’d like to take this opportunity to say how much I fucking hate the Hyde Amendment. The government does a lot of shit I don’t like with our tax dollars. I doubt I’m alone when I say I’m opposed to paying taxes to buy bombs that kill brown people. But do I get to make a special rule about how my money’s spent? No! Yet everyone has to bow and scrape to your (not ABL, you know what I mean) demands that not a cent goes towards abortion. Bullshit.
@taylormattd: I can’t tell you how relieved I was when Peyton Manning didn’t go to the Cardinals. Colorado isn’t perfect, what with Colorado Springs and the Air Force Academy, but they’re a hell of a lot better than the real hive of scum and villainy in a desert, Arizona.
Mr Stagger Lee
Give Arizona back to Mexico, let Los Zetas have fun with them!
ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©
Poor wingnuts.
They can’t run on their usual bankster cock-sucking, warmonger agenda, because President Obama has co-opted all of that already.
So they’re left with nothing to push but their racism and misogyny, if only to maintain some brand separation from our corporatist Democrats.
What a great country this is! Hope and Change, people.
~
4tehlulz
@ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©: 1/10; I’m feeling generous today.
Patricia Kayden
Are there any political consequences to Brewer’s war against women? Seems like she can do any damn thing she wants — when it comes to immigrants and women.
Faux News
@ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©:
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Your Troll routine is better than ambien.
kay
It was always about denying poor women birth control. They zeroed out Title X in the Tea Party House to reach poor women, and Title X is family planning. Birth control. Not abortion. A direct attack on poor women’s access to birth control.
They’d love to control all of us, but poor women are the only people they can reach, now, anyway, because the rest of us have the means to get past them.
The best thing Obama did was force them out of the attack on poor women frame and make it about ALL women, with the HHS rule.
Lockewasright
I have a 6 year old baby girl in this state. At this point I feel it will irresponsible to still live here when she hits puberty. My wife and I have been putting a 3 year plan to leave in action for a little while now, but this recent tare of Jan’s really seals it for us.
Steve in DC
Planned parenthood is always going to be under attack as long as it provides abortion services or christians still exist.
There is no way out of it. When it comes to birth control and contraception dems win hands down. When it comes to abortion all hell breaks loose.
ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©
@4tehlulz:
Bottles and cans, just clap your hands, 4tehlulz.
~
YellowJournalism
I would just love to hear the reasoning behind the “whole woman” title. I guess us pill-poppin’, abortion-lovin’ bitches aren’t whole women.
Frankensteinbeck
@kay:
…yes. I absolutely agree. Let me add that birth control only stopped being a major conservative issue when polling showed it was poisonous electorally. Now they’re too deranged to care and are showing their true colors.
Steve in DC
@MeDrewNotYou
Every state has good and bad areas. Parts of New York and California are worse than Alabama. In the DC tri state area it’s very liberal and progressive as long as you stay around the uber defense, CIA, NSA, Federal Government jobs that pay $$$, go out in into MD and VA far enough away from DOD jobs though and it’s wing nut land.
Not all of Arizona is that bad, I can say the same for Texas as well. It just depends who’s in power. VA has dealt with it by fucking over poor white rednecks at every damn chance we get to prevent them from gaining too much political clout and every now and then they manage to vote their guy into power. The only reason it’s not a complete cluster fuck is that people realize federal spending is the only thing keeping us alive.
4tehlulz
@ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©: No one believes you really care, so stop.
Steve in DC
@Franeknsteinbeck
It’s more of a “we don’t want to pay for it” issue. Conservative power brokers fundamentally are social liberal. Just look at Wall Street. They just don’t want to pay for shit. And if catering to wing nuts can help them not pay for something they will damn well cater to wing nuts.
The biggest cheer leaders for deregulation, right to work, destroying the EPA, removing the income taxes are socially liberal as hell. They love birth control for their mistress and the hooker they see every Friday when they do lines of blow off their ass. They just sure as fuck don’t want to pay for your abortion or your birth control.
the fugitive uterus
I don’t understand this shit. Birth control should be available and free to the poor and easily affordable or free to everyone else. This is not just about rights, it is about plain old common sense, the elephant in the room. To not support birth control is immoral, plain and simple, and unspeakably impractical. People who don’t give a shit about women’s rights that want to cut government spending should understand this, at least. I know that’s expecting way too much from this bunch.
You want to bitch about people on social programs having babies they can’t afford?! I have no idea what the statistics would be, but it goes without saying that less unwanted births will cost the state more than funding Planned Parenthood and easy access to cheap or free birth control.
It so fucking idiotic on its face that I don’t understand why the left does not insert this into their response to the war on women. This is what a true conservative, the definition of which has now been perverted, however, would want. It is, in all effect, cutting spending. Massive amounts of spending.
If you want to outlaw abortion outright, just come out and say it. If you want to outlaw contraception, just go ahead and fucking say it and then try.
The government should invest in public service campaigns to educate the public, as well, and encourage responsible family planning and use of contraception for those who are not financially able to become parents for an undetermined period of time.
I mean, am I just hallucinating all this, because I just don’t understand why this approach would not be way cheaper than the alternative, restricting birth control and/or making it more difficult to obtain than is now. I must apologize that it is insulting to the intelligence of the reader to even make mention of the fact that the use of birth control reduces the number of abortions and unwanted births of children who cannot be adequately cared for, who would otherwise end up being recipients of government assistance.
I just do not understand the country in which I live. The fact that these things are even being debated by legislators in this economy reflects the profound ignorance of a portion of the populace. People have just gone off the fucking deep end which would be okay if there weren’t so many of them.
Jan Brewer in The Cryptkeeper in a bad wig.
Frankensteinbeck
@Steve in DC:
This has very little to do with anything. Wall street is only a small part of the wealthy, and this is the area of the cultural conservatives, who are a vast power block independent of the rich – indeed, THE vast power block among the GOP. 2010 proved that conclusively. The greedier wealthy and the cultural conservatives are a coalition, banding together because, presumably, each side is pretty neutral on what the other wants, so they can together oppose liberals who are a mutual enemy.
Joseph Nobles
@MeDrewNotYou: I would like to take this opportunity to second your disgust with the fucking Hyde Amendment. Why can’t those idiots imagine their tax money going to some nice big jet plane to bomb brown people with, and I’ll let my tax money help with abortion? Jesus F.
burnspbesq
No, Arizona has not, in any sense that has anything to do with reality, succeeded at defunding Planned Parenthood. It has succeeded in passing legislation that will never go into effect.
The simple fact that such legislation exists is bad enough. You don’t need to lie to make your point.
ShadeTail
@Steve in DC:
That’s not socially liberal, that’s libertarian. “I’ll do what I want because I’ve got da bucks, and in the meantime, go fuck yourself.”
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@burnspbesq: Nobody who has been reading your bullshit for years actually believes that you think this legislation is “bad enough.”
The Catholic Church supports this legislation, therefore so do you. Oh sure, you’ll say it’s “bad enough,” then devote your time to excoriating anyone who actually wants to talk about it. As “bad enough” as you think this legislation is, to you it’s not nearly as bad as that horrible ABL writing about it. Good lord you’re a creep.
Go fuck yourself, you lover of child-rapists.
jncc
Brewer is just in favor of allowing the individual states determine how to handle women’s healthcare funding, the same way that Obama is in favor of allowing the individual states to determine whether or not gay folks can marry.
Rock on state’s rights!
Svensker
@efgoldman:
No, Jan Brewer was doing some other awful thing.
kay
@Steve in DC:
Steve, your theory doesn’t work. Conservatives funded Title X for decades, and Title X is birth control for poor people.
It’s called the Family Planning Act.
George HW Bush moved it in the House. That’s how long there was bipartisan
agreement on fed funding of birth control.
The Tea Party House zeroed it out because they are opposed to birth control.
Mnemosyne
@efgoldman:
No, last night’s thread was about the other awful birth-control related thing that Brewer signed that allows employers to police whether you’re using BCP for acne like you claimed or if you’re using it for dirty, dirty sex.
It’s hard to keep up with the horrible things Brewer is signing, frankly.
Weaselone
@the fugitive uterus:
I’m fairly certain that the penny wise, pound foolish nature of a many of the Republicans “cost cutting” measures has been pointed out by opponents. It just has not been something that resonates with the media and the public. There are multiple examples of this in politics, from Chicago selling off parking meter rights to private corporations instead of investing in upgraded meters to Republicans trying to kill Planned Parent despite the enormous savings PP likely generates by preventing unwanted pregnancies to contracting out tax collections instead of increasing the IRS budget.
In part, I blame the accounting system that the city, state and national governments use. They essentially use a cash basis system which makes taking shortsighted actions that make the budget look better today at the expense of the future is even more attractive than it is in the business world.
Yutsano
@jncc: Marriage is state law. Planned Parenthood funding is a federal act. But you knew that already.
Mnemosyne
@jncc:
Of course, by doing this, Brewer will lose all federal funding for healthcare in her state, since the feds actually pay for most of it. But, hey, if wingnut states want to finally pony up and pay their own way instead of taking money from the feds, that’s fine with me. We can use that federal healthcare money here in California if it’s too dirty for Arizona to accept.
But I’m pretty sure you’re going to see Brewer reverse course PDQ as soon as she realizes her state is going to lose that sweet, sweet federal money that they can’t run the state without.
jncc
@Yutsano: You might want to start reading at the top, the part where ABL posts about Arizona defunding Planned Parenthood.
kay
I’d just like to note that today, as every day, Democrats are forcing Republicans to pass draconian laws that target women, to distract from the Obama economy.
So stop doing that, Democrats. Let Republicans focus on job creation, which is what pundits tell me they want to do.
Yutsano
@jncc: You’re still swinging and missing. That’s not Arizona’s money. It comes as federal grants. Which means if the grant money is not used under federal guidelines Arizona loses it. But please keep telling us how Obama has failed you today. It’s enrapturing.
Tyro
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Signs Bill that Defunds Planned Parenthood; WTF Arizona?!
You know, the level of shock you’re expressing is out of proportion to the expectations one would have about Arizona.
News flash: this is what the crazy states do.
the fugitive uterus
correction, pardon!
wow, i really fucked that one up
Jan Brewer IS the Cryptkeeper in a bad wig
jncc
@Yutsano: You might want to work on understanding the facts instead of polishing your sarcasm.
“B. THIS STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY NOT ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH OR MAKE A GRANT TO ANY PERSON THAT PERFORMS NONFEDERALLY QUALIFIED ABORTIONS OR MAINTAINS OR OPERATES A FACILITY WHERE NONFEDERALLY QUALIFIED ABORTIONS ARE PERFORMED FOR THE PROVISION OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES.”
Mnemosyne
@jncc:
What part of “state Medicaid services are partially funded by the federal government” is so confusing to you?
If Arizona defunds Planned Parenthood, they lose their federal Medicaid dollars just like Texas did.
So, hey, they just passed a completely useless law that will hurt the women of their state and blow a hole in the state’s Medicaid budget. It’s a win-win for Republicans!
Yutsano
@Mnemosyne: I’m enjoying this particular flail personally. We’re squashing its right to firebag with facts and stuff!!
ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©
@4tehlulz:
Funny!
You’re projecting like a wingnut carrying a “Keep your government hands off my Social Security!” sign.
You’ve proven that you don’t care about President Hope and Change’s bankster protection racket. Or his murders of innocent civilians abroad. Or his persecution of whistle-blowers in this country.
It makes you angry when someone challenges your hypocrisy, doesn’t it. Keep waving those pom-poms, at least your fellow cheerleaders will respect you.
~
CW in LA
@4tehlulz: Same user name spouting the same Obama-is-just-as-bad-as-Shrub/Willard line is on wonkette and Media Matters, too. Is this one of those professional concern trolls whose goal is to drive down voter enthusiasm?
CW in LA
@ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©: However imperfect the president has been, the Republicans have been doing everything they can to make abundantly clear that they are and will be much, much worse. If you can’t see that, or more likely, choose to ignore it, you really are a tool.
Villago Delenda Est
@Steve in DC:
Once again, you’re deluded.
If PP didn’t offer abortion services, they’d still be under attack.
This has NEVER been about abortion, per se. It’s about denying women agency, and the undying hatred that the fundigelical and wingtard Catholic scum have for sexual freedom.
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©: I care about those things. Let’s not also forget the crackdowns on medical marijuana.
So, do you have a better deal? You have a better presidential candidate to vote for who has an actual chance of winning and fixing these problems?
No? Every single other viable presidential candidate is actually much worse than Obama in every way? Oh, well, thanks for nothing then.
The prophet Nostradumbass
@Baron Jrod of Keeblershire: That guy’s too busy striking a pose to actually try to accomplish anything.
Mnemosyne
@ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©:
Yes, it’s true — I care more about women in the US who already live in poverty suffering and dying needlessly than I do about the banksters. I realize it’s horrible and selfish of me to want American women to not have to suffer the way they do in other countries, but I’m funny that way.
And when you talk about “whistle-blowers” being persecuted, you mean torture apologist John Kiriakou, right? Yeah, I’m sure upset that the guy who went on national television to claim that torture is completely effective and that Zubaydah only got waterboarded once, maybe twice, is now being prosecuted for that. Watch me play the world’s tiniest violin for him.