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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Family planning no place to trim

Washington state’s recent deficit projection is alarming. In times like these when more and more people are finding themselves jobless and in need of help, cutting valuable programs is bad public policy. We should be helping each other get by, not cutting programs and slamming the door in the faces of the people who need these programs the most.

One such program facing elimination is Take Charge, Washington’s largest family-planning program. Take Charge has helped more than 400,000 low-income people access family-planning services like annual exams, cancer screenings and birth control.

Eliminating this successful program will add to the deficit: $50 million per year in new pregnancy care costs. Cutting Take Charge will be devastating to our state and devastating to the people who need it.

Danielle Lord-Flynn

Spokane

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