Editorial Boards Back State Policy on Free Birth Control

The San Diego Union-Tribune and Bakersfield Californian recently published editorials regarding a recent announcement by federal officials that a Medicaid agreement with California is in jeopardy if state officials do not begin verifying the citizenship of women seeking no-cost birth control through the California Family Planning, Access Care and Treatment program.

The administration of President Bush has been extending the current funding agreement for Family PACT on a monthly basis while the debate continues. The current agreement is due to expire April 30 (California Healthline, 4/4).

Summaries appear below.

• San Diego Union-Tribune: "Instead of balking at California's free birth control, the feds should encourage it everywhere," a Union-Tribune editorial states. "If recognizing that women, all women, should have access to birth control doesn't persuade this administration, the cold, raw numbers should," the editorial states. "Without this family planning service," payment for prenatal and delivery care to undocumented immigrants "will rise an estimated $400 million," according to the editorial (San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/9).
• Bakersfield Californian: "California must fight the Bush administration's attempt to deny poor, undocumented women free birth control," a Californian editorial states. "The state needs to battle this one until the Bush administration drops the proposal," the editorial states, concluding that the administration policy "is bad for women's health and too expensive for taxpayers" (Bakersfield Californian, 4/8).