AUSTIN — A Planned Parenthood Action Fund web ad asserts that Republican legislators could thwart women from accessing certain preventative health care if an abortion bill is passed.
The ad features the Republican lawmakers and reads: “A Texas health center’s cancer screening could save her life. Closing the health center could further [the senator’s] political ambition. Act now before Friday’s vote.”
The ad conflates Planned Parenthood health clinics with abortion providers that could be forced to close under legislation approved by the Senate on Friday — blurring the distinction that the group itself took pains to make in debates over funding for women’s health services two years ago.
The ads appear on The Dallas Morning News’ website, targeting Dallas Republican Sen. John Carona. Other GOP senators are included on other news sites.
Under the proposed legislation requiring most abortion clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers, many of the state’s clinics would be forced to perform expensive upgrades. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, based on history in other states, say this would force most operators to close the clinics.
Planned Parenthood operates 10 abortion clinics in the state that would be required to meet the new standards. The abortion clinics, by law, are separate entities and must be separately funded from health centers where cancer screenings take place.
Justine Sessions, a representative of the group, acknowledged that but said some abortion clinics and health centers are housed within the same buildings. She suggested that if it were too expensive to upgrade the abortion clinics, then it could also force the attached health clinics to close.
She could not say how many of the 10 abortion clinics are adjacent or within the same building as health care centers.
Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said 55 health care centers already have been shuttered in Texas after funding cuts two years ago. The pending legislation was not a factor.
Health centers that do not provide abortions would not be affected by the legislation.
Carona’s office declined to comment.
Follow David Barer on Twitter at @david_barer.
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