Ladies watch out. We are under attack again. If you are a female in your twenties you are a prime target. If you are an ethnic minority as well as a young woman, consider yourself public enemy number one.

This year, politicians have waged war against women’s rights at both a state and federal level in the form of legislation that eliminates funding to family planning services as well as many other things relating to reproductive health and education.

Political agendas have no place inside health care clinics, especially when it is only certain clinics that are targeted.  Any legislation that attempts to balance the budget on the reproductive organs of women is unacceptable and should be met with adamant resistance.

Proposed legislation at the federal level would completely eliminate funding for family planning groups like Planned Parenthood.  Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011-2013 biennial budget proposal eliminates funding for Wisconsin’s entire family planning program as well. According to Planned Parenthood this could leave an estimated 33,000 women without access to preventative care.  These cuts will disproportionately affect ethnic minorities as well as the poor and unemployed who are the primary recipients of Planned Parenthood services.

“When I hear Scott Walker say that he’s going to cut the family planning program, I hear him say ‘I do not care about women in Wisconsin,” said Wren Keturi, a Planned Parenthood volunteer and a student at the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Pro-Life Wisconsin has taken this opportunity to commend Gov. Scott Walker for “these common sense budget provisions that respect the consciences of Wisconsin taxpayers.”  This is a reference to their statistics that say most taxpayers across the country don’t support tax money funding clinics that perform abortions. Statistics published earlier this month by Quinnipiac University, NBC and the Wall Street Journal showed a majority in support of continued federal funding.

The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2008, “the state’s health department estimates, the (family planning) program prevented an estimated 11,064 unplanned pregnancies, at a savings it estimates at $139.1 million—savings, it says, in expenditures to cover the birth of those children and other health care for them.”  Clearly, these budget provisions have little to do with balancing a budget.  In fact, they could end up costing the state money in the end.

Another point of note is that family planning services such as Planned Parenthood do not use tax dollars to fund abortions.  Pro-Life Wisconsin concedes this point but goes on to claim by providing these groups tax dollars, it frees up other their funds to cover abortions.  The counter argument does not justify the cutting of all funding, as 97 percent of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s health care services are preventative.

Currently, a good portion of allotted tax dollars are spent on education programs that explain the benefits of both abstinence and contraceptives.  Above all these researched-based education programs offer truthful information about sexual health. Studies prove that this type of education contributes to reducing the number of unintended pregnancies as well as abortions. The programs also help lower the rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Government funded family planning programs also cover cancer screenings and the testing and treatment of STIs.  Without these vital services, increased rates of disease and lower levels reproductive health will ensue.

The state budget also repeals the Wisconsin Contraceptive Equality Law, previously mandating insurance companies to cover prescription birth control.  Many of these same companies that will drop prescription contraceptives from their coverage will continue to cover male enhancement drugs like Viagra.

Current federal and state legislation will undoubtedly increase unwanted pregnancy and STI rates.  In turn, it will increase pressure on social welfare programs and potentially cost the state and federal government more than they save by cutting programs like Planned Parenthood.

It is clear that the budget proposals cutting funding to family planning services are not intended to be budget repairs at all. They are a direct attack on women and their right to quality health care.  Treating this situation as anything other than a war on women is an insult.  We must all stand together and demand adequate reproductive health care and education in the state of Wisconsin.