Talkingpointsmemo: Obama plans to Get Family Planning Aid Done Soon

[flpoljunkie]

Obama Plans to Get Family Planning Aid Done Soon

By Elana Schor - January 29, 2009, 4:58PM

Women's health advocates were dismayed this week to see the removal of family-planning aid from Congress' economic recovery bill after a push by Republicans to politicize a generally cut-and-dry issue of Medicaid waivers. (Time has some good background here.)

But the dismay may not last long. A source present at today's White House signing ceremony for the Lilly Ledbetter bill tells me that President Obama gave assurances that the family planning aid would be done soon -- perhaps as soon as next week, when the House is set to take up a spending bill that would keep the government funded until October.

Obama emphasized that the family-planning aid "makes the budget look better, it's a money saver," the source said. In fact, removing the need for Medicaid waivers for family planning saves states an estimated $700 million over 10 years.

By removing the family-planning aid from the stimulus at Obama's request, Democrats "were giving a nod to the Republicans, believing they would act in good faith," the source added. And given how many GOPers voted for the stimulus bill, sounds like the family-planning aid is back on track.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/source-obama-plans-to-get-family-planning-aid-done.php

[katandmoon]

1. That would be MOST excellent

[Hope And Change]

2. All GOPers voted against not for the stimulus bill.

[Hekate]

3. I never doubted it. President Obama is a long-time friend of Planned Parenthood....

... and hence of women's health needs.

Hekate