The Battle for Birth Control

The New Hampshire Executive Council voted to reject up to $1.8 million in funding for the six Planned Parenthood clinics in the state in June, stripping its authority to dispense low-cost birth control and antibiotics to uninsured patients.

As of July 1, low-income patients now have to pay between $40 to over $100 for birth control pills at regular pharmacies.

Although the New Hampshire legislature has failed at their attempts to defund Planned Parenthood in the past, the Executive Council, which usually steers clear of controversial issues, overturned the decision of the state legislature and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Councilors who voted against the funding said they did so because some of its clinics provide abortions, even though those abortions are entirely privately funded.

Councilor Raymond Wieczorek added that he is opposed to abortion and providing condoms altogether. According to the Huffington Post, Wieczorek also added that, “If they want to have a good time, why not let them pay for it?”