Governor: Massachusetts will cover Planned Parenthood cuts
Gov. Charlie Baker says he will increase state funding for Planned Parenthood’s Bay State clinics if his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill cut federal funding for the nonprofit — a shrewd move that political strategists are calling part of a strategy aimed at positioning himself favorably for re-election next year.
“Yes, he wants to keep his base, but the way to win re-election is he needs an overwhelming majority of unenrolled voters, and he needs some Democrats, too,” said Mary Anne Marsh, a Democratic strategist. “The majority of voters in Massachusetts are women and pro-choice. So it would hurt him more not to do it than to do it.”
If the federal cuts go through, the state’s five Planned Parenthood clinics could lose about $2 million annually in Medicaid reimbursements. And since federal dollars cannot be used for abortions, the cuts instead would prevent about 10,000 Bay State patients from receiving contraception, cancer screenings and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, said Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, chief executive of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
“Governor Baker is a strong supporter of women’s health and believes the commonwealth has a responsibility to ensure access to the important health care services offered by Planned Parenthood in all corners of our state,” Baker spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton said in an email. “And the administration is prepared to fund these services should the federal government pursue changes that would block care for women and families here in Massachusetts.”
Read more: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2017/03/gov_mass_will_cover_planned_parenthood_cuts
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