Planned Parenthood’s value

Yesterday I read an interesting fact: “In 1964 Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry S. Truman became honorary chairmen of Planned Parenthood.” In 1968 President Nixon called population growth “one of the most serious challenges to human destiny in the last third of this century.” That is two Republicans and one Democrat who recognized the great value of national Planned Parenthood chapters.

Formed in 1916 in New York, this organization has served lower-income girls and women that have fewer insurance options and has helped them be able to space children and plan their families.

At least 90 percent of the services of Planned Parenthood involve screening for sexually-transmitted diseases and infection, screening for cancer and contraceptive help. This is a big plus in preventing teenage pregnancies. Isn’t that a positive for every girl in our society? The U.S. has had some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the developed countries and without supporting Planned Parenthood, it will be worse.

The bipartisan support of these presidents should be a continuing theme through the years, but I fear the Republicans have them rolling over in their graves with their efforts to defund this fine organization.

Roz Luther

Spokane