2012 Politics Gift Guide

Wish List: Comprehensive Women's Health Care for Uninsured Women

We imagine a program where uninsured women of childbearing age, who wouldn't otherwise be eligible for Medicaid-subsidized services unless pregnant, would be able to access free basic health and reproductive care services, including family planning and long-lasting, reversible birth control options. The program would allow women to choose a provider they're most comfortable with, and would save the state millions each year in costs associated with unintended pregnancy. In other words, we'd like to see the same program the state started in 2007 be continued as is. As long as Gov. Rick Perry and his cronies are hyperventilating about the scourge of Planned Parenthood, we figure we might as well be wishing for a pink unicorn.

In the meantime, might we suggest a donation to Planned Parenthood. As the state moves to do whatever it can to keep the clinics from being able to serve the hundreds of thousands of low-income Texans in need of subsidized services, Austin's Planned Parenthood has vowed to continue serving as many women as possible with the backing of local donors. Do your part to Keep Austin Planned. – J.S.