Americans support federal funding for women's health care, but especially if it goes to Planned Parenthood. (Photo: Women's eNews/flickr/cc)
Aug 19, 2015
A majority of Americans support federal funding for Planned Parenthood, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday--a sign that the tables may soon turn for the embattled health care provider and its outspoken conservative opponents.
Overall, 54 percent of respondents said they supported federal funding of Planned Parenthood, with 26 percent opposing. And while a majority of those polled said they would support government subsidies for free women's health exams, screenings, and contraception, an even greater percentage of respondents said they support those subsidies going specifically to Planned Parenthood to provide those services.
The poll comes just as several Republican lawmakers are threatening to defund the organization over a series of controversial videos released by the right-wing anti-choice group Center for Medical Progress. Four Republican senators have said they would implement a government shutdown to keep Planned Parenthood from getting its annual subsidy--but the survey indicates that doing so would go against broad public opinion, a risky move ahead of the upcoming election.
Reuters reports:
The non-profit's image has taken a hit, the poll found, after an anti-abortion group earlier this year began releasing videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials negotiating prices for aborted fetal tissue.
Still, the strong support for federal funds to help Planned Parenthood provide screenings, pregnancy tests and prenatal services indicates Republican presidential candidates should tread carefully addressing the issue on the campaign trail.
In another telling detail, support for the organization came from both sides of the political aisle. Democrats and Republicans both said they backed funding for women's health services, even when Planned Parenthood was named.
"We have so many young people having babies when they're babies themselves, and if they can get some kind of birth control or help or education, anything to stop that trend would be very good," said one respondent, Renee Harrison, of Wisconsin.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
A majority of Americans support federal funding for Planned Parenthood, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday--a sign that the tables may soon turn for the embattled health care provider and its outspoken conservative opponents.
Overall, 54 percent of respondents said they supported federal funding of Planned Parenthood, with 26 percent opposing. And while a majority of those polled said they would support government subsidies for free women's health exams, screenings, and contraception, an even greater percentage of respondents said they support those subsidies going specifically to Planned Parenthood to provide those services.
The poll comes just as several Republican lawmakers are threatening to defund the organization over a series of controversial videos released by the right-wing anti-choice group Center for Medical Progress. Four Republican senators have said they would implement a government shutdown to keep Planned Parenthood from getting its annual subsidy--but the survey indicates that doing so would go against broad public opinion, a risky move ahead of the upcoming election.
Reuters reports:
The non-profit's image has taken a hit, the poll found, after an anti-abortion group earlier this year began releasing videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials negotiating prices for aborted fetal tissue.
Still, the strong support for federal funds to help Planned Parenthood provide screenings, pregnancy tests and prenatal services indicates Republican presidential candidates should tread carefully addressing the issue on the campaign trail.
In another telling detail, support for the organization came from both sides of the political aisle. Democrats and Republicans both said they backed funding for women's health services, even when Planned Parenthood was named.
"We have so many young people having babies when they're babies themselves, and if they can get some kind of birth control or help or education, anything to stop that trend would be very good," said one respondent, Renee Harrison, of Wisconsin.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
A majority of Americans support federal funding for Planned Parenthood, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday--a sign that the tables may soon turn for the embattled health care provider and its outspoken conservative opponents.
Overall, 54 percent of respondents said they supported federal funding of Planned Parenthood, with 26 percent opposing. And while a majority of those polled said they would support government subsidies for free women's health exams, screenings, and contraception, an even greater percentage of respondents said they support those subsidies going specifically to Planned Parenthood to provide those services.
The poll comes just as several Republican lawmakers are threatening to defund the organization over a series of controversial videos released by the right-wing anti-choice group Center for Medical Progress. Four Republican senators have said they would implement a government shutdown to keep Planned Parenthood from getting its annual subsidy--but the survey indicates that doing so would go against broad public opinion, a risky move ahead of the upcoming election.
Reuters reports:
The non-profit's image has taken a hit, the poll found, after an anti-abortion group earlier this year began releasing videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials negotiating prices for aborted fetal tissue.
Still, the strong support for federal funds to help Planned Parenthood provide screenings, pregnancy tests and prenatal services indicates Republican presidential candidates should tread carefully addressing the issue on the campaign trail.
In another telling detail, support for the organization came from both sides of the political aisle. Democrats and Republicans both said they backed funding for women's health services, even when Planned Parenthood was named.
"We have so many young people having babies when they're babies themselves, and if they can get some kind of birth control or help or education, anything to stop that trend would be very good," said one respondent, Renee Harrison, of Wisconsin.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.