Hutchison Criticizes Perry over Women’s Health Program Decision

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison came to the defense of the Women’s Health Program and Planned Parenthood Thursday, chiding Rick Perry and other Texas Republicans for implementing policies that caused the state to lose $35 million in Medicaid funds for women’s healthcare.
 
“We can’t keep turning back federal funds that every state gets and then try to find money in our budget which is already being cut in key areas like education,” Hutchison told NBC’s Chuck Todd. “I do think that the governor needs to sit down with the federal government and work it out so that we can have our share, our fair share … of money for Medicaid to help low-income women have their health care services.”

When asked about Planned Parenthood, Hutchison tripped over her tongue for a few seconds before saying “I think Planned Parenthood does mammograms, they do so much of the health care, the preventive health care, and if they’re doing that we have to help them provide those services.”

For more background on why the Department of Health and Human Services decided to stop payment of the $35 million in family planning services to Texas, click here.