Senate approves family planning bill

BOISE – Passionate debate Tuesday from two North Idaho lawmakers helped narrowly push a family planning bill through the Senate, despite the efforts of some conservatives who tried to tie the measure to abortion.

“We’re putting up peanuts and getting thousands or millions back,” declared Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d’Alene.

SB 1140, sponsored by Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, passed on an 18-17 vote after 13 senators weighed in on the issue during an almost two-hour debate. It would expand family-planning services – including diagnosis, treatment, counseling and contraceptive supplies, but not abortion – for low-income women and families.

Proponents argued it was a positive step toward lowering future Medicaid costs, considering that nearly 40 percent of all Idaho births currently are paid for by the program. But opponents said it would fund organizations that advocate abortion – even though the bill specifically forbids funding for abortions.

Planned Parenthood, which was the target of much of the opposition and would get $25,000 if the bill passes, does not offer abortions in Idaho, but does provide information about abortions.

“This will allow … Planned Parenthood to counsel minors on abortion,” said Sen. Gerry Sweet, R-Meridian, the most outspoken foe of the bill. “They will give out condoms (and) birth control pills to our minor children – all without your consent or knowledge. … I will not support any legislation that leads to the funding of Planned Parenthood.”

The measure would offer services to women older than 19 who are enrolled in the Medicaid Pregnant Women and Children Program and to women and men whose children are enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Currently, low-income women can get Medicaid benefits for up to 60 days before they give birth, but are ineligible after that. It would allow them to get care for up to five years following their pregnancy, just like their children can get.

Keough and other backers said if women could get more counseling and care there would be fewer unplanned pregnancies and, consequently, not as many high-risk births and unwanted babies.

“I know this is an emotional debate for a lot of folks,” Keough said, “but this is an important issue, one we cannot ignore.”

Added Sagle GOP Sen. Joyce Broadsword: “We need to help the women of Idaho and we need to do it today.”

Keough and Compton argued that bills that make a difference in people’s lives don’t come around very often. As chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee, Compton said the measure had universal support from physicians, nurses and clinics around the state.

“All around these halls, we talk about how we have to do something with Medicaid,” Compton said, “how it’s cutting into education and every other program.… That’s absolutely true.”

The state would be responsible for $212,500 in the first year and $300,000 in the second year to start the program. After that, Keough said, it wouldn’t have a negative affect on the budget. Unlike other Medicaid programs, the federal government would pay 90 percent of the costs, she said.

Twenty-one states have implemented and various others are considering similar programs.

Almost all opponents of the measure agreed it has merits, but said it opens up the chance for abortion counseling to occur and for types of contraceptives that they consider tantamount to abortion to be distributed.

Sen. Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home, called the advice Planned Parenthood offers to teens on its Web site “highly offensive and frankly pornographic in nature.”

But Compton stressed that only women over 19 will be eligible under the bill.

“This is not the virgin princess who is coming into the office,” he said. “…This isn’t a 13-year-old kid.”

Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, was the only North Idaho senator to vote against the legislation, which now goes to the House.