Before Komen Flap, Walker Went After Women's Health Services

The Susan G. Komen For The Cure foundation deservedly got slammed - - with brutal consequence - - for politicizing the provision of women's health services, but don't forget that Scott Walker was ahead of Komen in stopping a Planned Parenthood contract and other ideological moves, the Wisconsin affiliate has said:

Open Letter to Governor Walker and Secretary Smith

Hand delivered
December 12, 2011

Dear Governor Walker and Secretary Dennis Smith,

On December 1st, Planned Parenthood was contacted by an employee of the Department of Health and Services by phone to notify us that as of January 1, 2012 you will be ending our 16-year partnership facilitating breast and cervical cancer screenings as a part of the Wisconsin Well Women program in Winnebago, Outagamie, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac counties.

The Counties, Planned Parenthood and the state have scrambled to maintain those services, but Walker's intent and attitude were manifestly clear.

Walker had displayed his contempt for low-income Wisconsinites' needs after just a few weeks in office, Planned Parenthood reported: 

For immediate release  March 2, 2011

Governor Walker Eliminates Women's Health Program and Rolls Back Women's Rights
Governor’s anti-birth control position displayed throughout budget

MADISON, WI – With his anti-birth control beliefs in full display, Governor Walker’s budget completely eliminates Title V, the only state funded family planning health care program, which provides critical health care services to uninsured women and men including cervical cancer screens, testicular cancer screenings, breast and well women exams, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and access to birth control.

The Governor also continues his assault on basic rights and allows discrimination against women by repealing the Wisconsin’s Contraceptive Equity law. Governor Walker’s budget allows insurance companies to discriminate against women by denying coverage for prescription birth control even when other prescriptions are covered.

Planned Parenthood catalogued a sample of reductions by Walker and the legislature in women's health services in a January statement:

Act 32 the State Budget Bill, which cut $500 million from the Badgercare program kicking 65,000 Wisconsin citizens off of their health insurance and denying them access to cost effective, lifesaving, preventative care.

Act 32 also eliminated funding for women seeking cancer screens, health exams, birth control, STD testing and pregnancy testing at Planned Parenthood, Wisconsin’s largest reproductive health care provider,.

Act 32 eliminated funding for women seeking Colposcopy services, a cancer screening method, at Planned Parenthood – one of the only health care providers that provide colposcopy services to low income women.

SB 237 which repeals the Healthy Youth Act that requires the teaching of abstinence based, age-appropriate, medically accurate information to our students as a means of preventing unintended pregnancy and the transmission and spread of STD’s.

AB 386 eliminates funding for women seeking lifesaving cervical and breast cancer screenings under the Well Woman Program at non-profit health care providers like Planned Parenthood. Terminating the state’s contract with Planned Parenthood to coordinate breast and cervical cancer services under the Well Women Program in Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan counties against the counties wishes, without notice, and without a ready transition plan. AJR 77 a Constitutional Amendment to outlaw abortion, IVF services, stem cell research, and birth control which was so extreme it failed to pass in the most conservative state in the nation- Mississippi.

AJR 34 a bill to honor crisis pregnancy centers which provide medically inaccurate and dangerous information to women.

AB 371 a bill which reiterates current abortion barriers and adds additional restrictions for the four remaining Wisconsin abortion providers. AB 448 a bill which mimics current federal law prohibiting certain abortion procedures in all circumstances, even if the life of the mother is at stake.

SB 92 a bill which prohibits health insurance companies from covering abortion services which will negative impact women in the most tragic health circumstances like if a pregnant woman is diagnosed with cancer or other life threatening conditions. Currently 80 % of private insurance companies cover abortion services.