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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

Planned Parenthood staves off cut to family-planning nurses…

Planned Parenthood has managed to un-do a budget cut, convincing lawmakers and the governor to overrule a state agency's decision to ctop paying for 70 family planning nurses across the state.

The Department of Social and Health Services had decded to end those contract positions today. But heavy lobbying to Planned Parenthood and its supporters reversed that decision, getting the nurses' contracts renewed through June.

Advocates said the nurses are key to getting birth control information to people, particularly in rural areas with few health resources. They also argued that it was foolish to cut a program that returns $9 from the feds for every $1 spent by the state.



Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.