Warner Todd Huston
Will Obamacare put abortion providers in schools?
By Warner Todd Huston
In a section innocuously titled "School-Based Health Clinics," the House bill, H.R. 3200, seems to set up Democrats to invite groups like Planned Parenthood into our schools to serve as a school "health clinic." ('Sec. 399Z-1. School-Based Health Clinics.)
And even more insidiously the bill provides for these "clinics" to be initiated immediately — effective date to be July 1, 2010 — whereas much of the rest of H.R. 3200 does not take effect until 2013. Why the rush? If one were cynical, one might think that the fast tracking of these "clinics" was meant to catch critics off guard. After all, if these "clinics" are slipped into our schools before anyone is aware of them, it will be harder to get them out or to protest the whole deal beforehand.
Here is how Sec. 399Z-1 begins:
Even more eyebrow raising is the fact that this bill requires these clinics to "establish a network" to offer services after school is closed, too.
And, as is the case throughout this bill, all determinations as to what should or must be done is left to "the Secretary" meaning that all determinations rest as a matter of law with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and, therefore, the White House. No local involvement, no teachers, school boards or parents need bother trying to affect these requirements and arrangements.
A naked power grab is the end result.
Now, remembering that the White House and its administration is the ruling authority, in this political climate we must realize that groups like Planned Parenthood will certainly be considered a qualifying agency worthy of being placed in our schools.
Does anyone doubt that Kathleen Sebelius and President Obama could be expected to be favored with a contract for being an in-school healthcare service? Certainly they would.
Once again we see a very controversial proposal slipped into this bill in hopes that the massive size of this thing will be so overwhelming that people simply cannot possibly catch every one of them.
We also see a big payback to Obama supporters that would otherwise not have enough legitimacy to gain access to our children otherwise.
But let's take another step back here. I am against abortion and despise Planned Parenthood. But say you are a lefty and love both. Then imagine that a solidly anti-abortion president takes office and his Secretary decides to de-certify your beloved baby killing agencies and they put in abstinence only or religiously based "clinics." Would you be happy about it? Of course you wouldn't.
The only real solution is not to have government mandating these sorts of things in the first place, right, center, or left!
(Cross posted at HealthcareHorseRace.com.)
© Warner Todd Huston
September 12, 2009
In a section innocuously titled "School-Based Health Clinics," the House bill, H.R. 3200, seems to set up Democrats to invite groups like Planned Parenthood into our schools to serve as a school "health clinic." ('Sec. 399Z-1. School-Based Health Clinics.)
And even more insidiously the bill provides for these "clinics" to be initiated immediately — effective date to be July 1, 2010 — whereas much of the rest of H.R. 3200 does not take effect until 2013. Why the rush? If one were cynical, one might think that the fast tracking of these "clinics" was meant to catch critics off guard. After all, if these "clinics" are slipped into our schools before anyone is aware of them, it will be harder to get them out or to protest the whole deal beforehand.
Here is how Sec. 399Z-1 begins:
-
'(a) Program- The Secretary shall establish a school-based health clinic program consisting of awarding grants to eligible entities to support the operation of school-based health clinics (referred to in this section as 'SBHCs').
Even more eyebrow raising is the fact that this bill requires these clinics to "establish a network" to offer services after school is closed, too.
-
'(iii) the SBHC will provide on-site access during the academic day when school is in session and has an established network of support and access to services with backup health providers when the school or SBHC is closed;
And, as is the case throughout this bill, all determinations as to what should or must be done is left to "the Secretary" meaning that all determinations rest as a matter of law with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and, therefore, the White House. No local involvement, no teachers, school boards or parents need bother trying to affect these requirements and arrangements.
A naked power grab is the end result.
Now, remembering that the White House and its administration is the ruling authority, in this political climate we must realize that groups like Planned Parenthood will certainly be considered a qualifying agency worthy of being placed in our schools.
Does anyone doubt that Kathleen Sebelius and President Obama could be expected to be favored with a contract for being an in-school healthcare service? Certainly they would.
Once again we see a very controversial proposal slipped into this bill in hopes that the massive size of this thing will be so overwhelming that people simply cannot possibly catch every one of them.
We also see a big payback to Obama supporters that would otherwise not have enough legitimacy to gain access to our children otherwise.
But let's take another step back here. I am against abortion and despise Planned Parenthood. But say you are a lefty and love both. Then imagine that a solidly anti-abortion president takes office and his Secretary decides to de-certify your beloved baby killing agencies and they put in abstinence only or religiously based "clinics." Would you be happy about it? Of course you wouldn't.
The only real solution is not to have government mandating these sorts of things in the first place, right, center, or left!
(Cross posted at HealthcareHorseRace.com.)
© Warner Todd Huston
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