Our View

Our View

Taking a stance on Planned Parenthood in Arkansas

High-five to state Department of Human Services Director Cindy Gillespie for boldly taking the steps to appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals a September ruling that said the state must resume providing Medicaid tax dollars for all patients who use Planned Parenthood services in Arkansas.

Let us begin by making it clearly understood our position that every adult should have the absolute right to make his or her choices in life as long as the decisions they make are within the boundaries of the law.

If an individual makes the choice of making a fool of themselves, dye their hair pink, act like a fool or live their lives radically different than others, so be it.

While there are those who may disagree, there is the popular belief in the right of individual choice without interference from others who may believe otherwise.

Now, where we believe the line drawn in the sand is crossed is when government bureaucrats, leftist politicians and government leaders use our tax dollars that are derived from every citizen of all views and values on highly controversial and highly questionable private interests.

Gillespie’s appeal comes following the July 2015 release of videos that activists said showed Planned Parenthood clinics in other states profited from the sale of fetal tissue after abortions.

Regardless of whether the videos were tampered with their impact continues to play out nationally and in states like Arkansas, where even Gov. Asa Hutchinson has issued a directive to stop Medicaid, the government funded health insurance program for people with low incomes, from reimbursing Planned Parenthood for all services.

While Medicaid funds already couldn’t be used to pay for actual abortions in Arkansas, Hutchinson still wants the program from paying for well-woman exams, cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy testing, options counseling, Food and Drug Administration approved birth control methods and other services.

While we can certainly support Gillespie’s appeal endeavors and Hutchinson’s opposition to using our tax dollars to support this private enterprise based on abortion and abortion related issues, we question the governor’s opposition to the funding of non-controversial exams, screening, testing and options counseling.

We suppose this particular aspect of opposition is based on Planned Parenthood itself, which we may add there are only two such facilities operating in Arkansas.

As we’ve pointed out, what an individual wants to do with their personal life is their business but when it comes to wanting our tax dollars then it becomes a topic of serious public discussion, debate and possibly litigation.

If an individual chooses to patronize such an abortion clinic, disguised as a so-called “Planned Parenthood Services” and pay for services with their own money that is their business and will remain so until there is a request for government subsidies.

We certainly commend Director Gillespie and Gov.

Hutchinson for taking a stand on this issue and hope their efforts prevail.