Jeb Bush is apparently under the impression that abstinence-only education is the equivalent of “other women’s health orgs.” That, or Jeb has decided that when at first you don’t succeed: lie, lie again.
But as governor, Bush redirected Planned Parenthood money to abstinence-only education programs rather than to other women’s health organizations.
The St. Petersburg Times reported in January 2003:
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida lost $124,000 last year from its family planning division. Bush diverted the funds to abstinence-only educational programs. Now teens who use Planned Parenthood have a $15 co-pay and must pay $7 for birth control. “We do charge the teens now,” said LaWanda Walker, public affairs coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. “That we really, really hate. You need to be able to have services and make it convenient.”
…
In a tweet, he added, “In line with my FL record – we absolutely must defund PP and redirect those funds to other women’s health orgs.”
But Bush did not redirect Planned Parenthood money into community health centers providing birth control, Pap tests and other family planning services as he suggested. He diverted money to abstinence-only education and spent millions on crisis pregnancy centers, which are non-medical, religiously motivated organizations dedicated to convincing women not to have abortions.
…
“Jeb Bush can scramble all he wants to spin his statements,” said Jess McIntosh, a spokeswoman for the group. “But his long record of eroding women’s access to health care and his extreme positions when it comes to women and families show that his slip of the tongue wasn’t actually a slip at all.”
Published: Aug 5, 2015