LETTER: Improve Planned Parenthood Rights In Montgomery County

EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to some apparent confusion about the nature of letters to the editor, please note the following clarification: letters to the editor are not written by Patch editors. The letter written below was submitted by a Patch reader. No letter to the editor ever reflects the views or opinions of Patch or its employees. Letters to the editor are a platform for opinionated dialogue about issues important to readers, and should not be confused with objective news reports. To submit a letter to the editor, please email justin.heinze@patch.com.

Dear Editor:

I’m writing to express concern that women in Montgomery County may not have access to Planned Parenthood benefits, for the wrong reasons. There is a primary care physician for 1 in 5 women in the United States. Federal funding is used for cancer screenings, Pap smears, birth control, and testing for sexually transmitted infections. No tax payer dollars are used for abortions. During a meeting with State Legislator Kate Harper she said “Planned Parenthood has a bad reputation, haven’t you seen the videos?” This was her primary reason for taking a stand to remove funding for Planned Parenthood, a primary care physician for so many women.

In 2014 two anti abortion advocates with fake drivers licenses, infiltrated and recorded conversations of Planned Parenthood staff. They made the videos public in 2015. These videos were heavily edited, and falsely claimed Planned Parenthood was illegally selling tissue. A grand jury in Texas has cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoings, but charged the perpetrators with a felony for using fake ID’s and a misdemeanor for trying to conspire to buy the tissue. The anti abortion perpetrators, have been successfully charged with 15 felonies.

How can State Legislator Kate Harper, reference false information about Planned Parenthood to justify taking access away from women? Without these services we could have higher teen pregnancy rates, sexually transmitted diseases, and less prevention screenings. She would be taking away health, for the wrong reasons. I would like to see elected officials concerned about the women in the counties they govern, instead of not doing proper research.

I urge your readers to contact State Legislator Kate Harper and disagree with her reasoning to defund Planned Parent Hood, and urge her to make informed decisions on women’s health in the future.

Sincerely,
Kim McCollum
Harleysville, PA

Patch file photo