LETTER: Funding Planned Parenthood not 'right thing to do'

I read with interest the Sunday letter from Susan Cahill as it relates to Planned Parenthood. She states the video which has caused so much controversy about abortions was “...edited in order to make Planned Parenthood look as though it was conducting callous and possibly criminal activities.”

It would be interesting to see the proof of this statement, or are we being given an opinion by Ms. Cahill, and not a fact. Further into the article she states “...to defund Planned Parenthood will only increase the number of abortions, as well as the number of reproductive cancers, HIV and other STDs.” Again, no proof that this statement has any basis in fact, but only an opinion from Ms. Cahill. I will admit, this statement has been used on many occasions by Planned Parenthood, without any supporting documentation.

Ms. Cahill, as a physician assistant, must be aware that most of the services provided by Planned Parenthood, are available at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and all like facilities throughout the United States. Therefore, these services are redundant in the communities in which there is a Planned Parenthood clinic. As a taxpayer, I then have to ask why is the government funding a private agency to provide redundant services?

There are many agencies throughout the United States that provide extensive services to women and their families. The Red Cross, United Way, and the local food banks, to name a few. These organizations operate without federal tax dollars and in my opinion, provide a far greater benefit to our nation. Should these organizations also be given federal tax dollars?

At a time when our federal government is operating with a fiscal deficit of around $65 billion, to defund an agency that provides redundant services would really seem to be a prudent fiscal decision.  Funding Planned Parenthood is a “nice thing to do,” but we should ask ourselves, if under the current financial  conditions in the United States, is it the “right thing to do.”

I urge all of the Daily Inter Lake readers to make an informed decision about Planned Parenthood funding, and then contact their senators and congressman to let them know how they feel. —Dale B. Heldstab, Columbia Falls