Texas GOPer: Planned Parenthood Does Nothing for Women’s Health

Planned Parenthood clinics are closing throughout Texas because they don’t have “anything” to do with women’s health, says Dan Patrick, a Republican running for lieutenant governor in the state. During a runoff debate with current Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Patrick explained that, as a state senator, he worked to cut funding to the country’s largest nonprofit provider of reproductive health-care, cancer screenings, and other gynecological services, because it is “a myth that Planned Parenthood has anything to do with women’s health. Why are they closing clinics if they’re making money on providing women’s health?” He asked. “They’re closing clinics because they make all their money taking the lives of babies.” In a statement, the Texas Democratic Party’s deputy communications director said “Texas women are appalled by Dan Patrick’s deplorable statements,” and pointed out that “158,345 Texans received preventative health-care at Planned Parenthood in 2013.”