ABORTION/GOP/PLANNED PARENTHOOD/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday [5-18-18] issued a proposal that would effectively stop giving government funds that subsidize birth control for low-income women to Planned Parenthood and other clinics that provide abortions. The plan is aimed at fulfilling Trump’s campaign pledge to defund Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides abortions and other health services for women, and comes as Republicans push to energize Trump supporters ahead of November congressional elections. Congress provided $286 million in Title X grants in 2017 to Planned Parenthood and other health centers to provide birth control, screening for diseases and cancer, and other reproductive counseling to low-income women. The funding cannot be used for abortions, but abortion opponents have long complained that the money subsidizes Planned Parenthood itself…Planned Parenthood said it would not back down from providing abortions and counseling, and would fight the rule in court if needed. The group provides healthcare services to about 40 percent of the 4 million people covered by the Title X program, and said community health centers would not be able to absorb its patients. The organization called it a ‘gag rule’ that would roll back a requirement that medical professionals provide information about abortions.”
-Roberta Rampton, “Trump proposes taking funds away from abortion providers,” Reuters, May 18, 2018 9:11 am