“Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels’ (R) ‘truce’ on social issues is now facing its first real test,” according to TPMuckraker.com.
“Indiana is set to become the first state to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood, unless Daniels vetoes the bill sent to him Thursday by the Indiana State Legislature.
“Daniels, who is firmly anti-abortion, has a week to act on the bill.
“Planned Parenthood Of Indiana has said the bill could cost the state $4 million in Medicaid federal family funds. The bill would run afoul of federal law, which prohibits states from picking which providers may offer family planning services to Medicaid patients. According to Planned Parenthood, by violating that law, Indiana may risk losing all federal funds for family planning providers.
“The bill would also ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
“It’s a tough line to walk for Daniels, who, as a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, needs to prove his conservative chops. He’s faced heated criticism on the right for calling for a ‘truce’ on social issues and suggesting lawmakers focus on fiscal matters instead.”
The rest of the article is here.
For background “Christie’s conservatism not just all about the $$$” is here. Like Daniels, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also is considered a possible candidate for President.
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Jeff,
This should not be a political decision: We will pray that he does the right thing.
History always smiles on those who defend the defenseless.
John
Hyde Amendment
So much for a ‘truce’ on social issues.
Mitch Daniels announced yesterday that he would be signing the bill to defund Planned Parenthood in Indiana. Never mind that this action puts women’s lives at risk. Poor women in most of Indiana will need to travel to Illinois for services, or go to urban centers, where population density means services will likely continue without government support.
All this over an entirely legal activity, that comprises less than 4% of Planned Parenthood’s overall services.
This is a classic example of Presidential ambition trumping sound policy.
But even more insidious, it is an example of how rural areas get caught in the crosshairs (intentional violent image) of ideologically driven debates on federal issues where a minority of hard headed and hard hearted citizens can make live harder to be rural.
Over on the right wing blogs I read that they are concerned about the cost of gas imposing on their God given right to their selected sport, RV’ing. I wonder how they feel about poor women in rural areas needing to drive 100 miles to get family planning services?
Of course I already know answer.
Steve,
While there are certainly a few grown women who have lost their lives at the hands of PP abortionists, there have been a whole lot more unborn women who have lost their lives to the nations largest provider of abortions: Won’t this bill help to save some of their lives?
John
Does Governor Daniels have any political or spiritual compassion or thought in his rather venal and cynical head about those 100′s of thousands, nay, millions who’ve been affected by the horrific tornado or imminent flooding in his neighborhood? No? Gaddafi’s men who are raping women in the Middle East? Jaycee Dugards of the world? As far as I’m concerned, “politicians” like Daniels carry a cross in one hand and a bloodstone to throw AT the women of the world in the other. Shame on them. Kate
At least with Trump women know exactly what kind of snake their f%&in workin with…Kate w
Daniels, who would likely just be one of many “alsorans” in a growing field of little known Republican Presidential candidates, probably wants to hang on to his job as Governor of Indiana just in case he is not elected President. Since the bill in question passed through his state’s legislature and was approved by legislators duly elected to represent the voters of Indiana, the Governor actually had little choice other than to sign the bill. That is how states rights and democracy works, like it or not. Those residents who feel the state majority decision on this and like issues is wrong have the option of moving to another state or staying put and working around such decisions not to their liking.
Or, Pat, if the voters really don’t like it they can change it back-by voting him or their legislatures out of office. Or not voting in wingnuts. I guess nobody has to twist their arms to provide adequate women’s health care. We deserve what we vote in, as we can all see…even if it is nasty, venal and damaging. That’s why I loved the book, “What the Hell is the Matter With Kansas?” So much. Or Bell or Vernon, Ca. For that matter…Kate
Of course, like Texas boasted, Indiana could secede, like Gov. Big pants Perry said he was going to…they don’t need no stinkin fed money…or any o that global outreach. They could bring Godaffy and Berlusconi and every fascist dictator to run their hospitals, and their treatment centers, and recite cowboy poetry for em…play motorcycle cop…they don’t need no scientists…they could build a great big hut under a dome and they don’t need no computer programmers, no hippie or brown gardeners…poor, sick people, well, the wingnut GOP plan seems to be “Jest Die Awlready”…Oh, and don’t let Alabama or Arizona hit ya in yer Christian conscience on the way out…pardner…Kate
Course, a lil heads up Rootin Tootin Guvener Ricky…its been tried beforin…by Jimmy Jones, Wingbat Koresh, and FLDS Jeffords and Palin…uh, good luck with that…we’ll leave tha light on for ya…Kate
Godaffys “human family shields” need to flee now…if Gaddafi isn’t man enough to spare his people, he’s obviously not man enough to save his family. It seems NATO has politely suggested their departure for long enough…I do believe NATO has run all out of polite…Kate