The Public Costs of Unplanned Pregnancy

The Public Costs of Unplanned Pregnancy

Unplanned pregnancy costs taxpayers approximately $11 billion each year, according to two new studies from the Guttmacher Institute and Brookings Institution. Additional new research provides the first-ever state-by-state estimates of unintended pregnancy. Among the headlines:

• Preventing unplanned pregnancy would yield substantial taxpayer savings. As Adam Thomas and Emily Monea of Brookings conclude, “The prevention of unintended pregnancy represents an important opportunity for the public to reap substantial savings, especially given the current fiscal climate. The enactment or expansion of cost-effective policies to prevent unintended pregnancies is therefore a timely and sensible strategy.”
• Fully 64% of births resulting from unplanned pregnancies were publicly funded in 2006---compared with 48% of all births and 35% of births resulting from intended pregnancies.
• At least 38% of pregnancies are unintended in all 50 states---more than half are unintended in 29 states and D.C.
• The media state unintended pregnancy rate was 51 per 1,000 women aged 15-44.

©2011, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036
ph: (202) 478-8507. fax: (202) 478-8588. CFC #10496

Choose Life Plate To Get House Vote

Choose Life Plate To Get House Vote

Special Report - June 3, 2011
On Thursday, the House Finance Committee passed HB 289—Authorize Various Special Plates, a bill that would give approval to a number of new specialty license plates for North Carolina drivers, including a long awaited “Choose Life” plate. The measure will now receive a vote on the House floor. Should HB 289 become law, North Carolina drivers would finally have the opportunity to purchase a “Choose Life” specialty license plate and help raise money for the state’s Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs), organizations that provide services and support for women considering alternatives to abortion. Under the measure, part of the proceeds from the sale of each “Choose Life” plate will be directed to the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship, a nonprofit group charged with distributing the funds to the state’s Pregnancy Resource Centers.

In the Finance Committee, after primary bill sponsor Rep. Mitch Gillespie (R-McDowell) offered a brief explanation of the measure, the debate quickly focused on the inclusion of the “Choose Life” plate, which has been proposed for authorization for nearly a decade. Rep. Paul Luebke (D-Orange) offered an amendment, which sought to place restrictions on use of funds gained by the “Choose Life” plate, proposing that they only be directed to organizations that provide counseling for “all legal options,” including abortion. Rep. Gillespie urged committee members to vote down the amendment, adding that, as the bill’s sponsor, he would not allow the bill to proceed if such an amendment were adopted. After lengthy debate, Rep. Luebke’s amendment failed by a vote of 12-16.

Rep. Kelly Alexander (D-Mecklenburg) then proposed an amendment, which would have added another specialty plate to the bill, with part of the proceeds from the sale of the plate to be directed to Planned Parenthood. Some committee members voiced support for the change, arguing that it was only fair that both sides of the abortion debate be represented. As we previously reported, this amendment, which was also proposed during consideration in the House Transportation Committee in May, was rejected by a vote of 14-15.

An additional amendment, proposed by Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Wake) sought to increase state regulation of the PRCs, which typically operate on a small budget, relying heavily on volunteers. That amendment also failed. The vote was 11-16. Ultimately, the House Finance committee passed the un-amended version of HB 289 by a vote of 17-13. It will now go to the House floor for consideration there.

Copyright © 2011. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.

Fast Fact- Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia can result in pelvic inflammatory disease in women, a condition that can cause infertility. Each year, STDs cause at least 24,000 women in the U.S. to become infertile. Check your risk for STDs at www.stdwizard.org.

Reference:

CDC. 2009 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance. Trends in Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States: 2009 National Data for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats09/trends.htm.

STD wizard

Take 5 minutes to find out if you need to get tested for an STI such as HIV, hepatitis, or chlamydia.

Remember that you need to visit a healthcare provider for all your health needs. Information based on 2006 sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk assessment and screening guidelines, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is the nation's top health agency.

http://www.stdwizard.org/

HB 854-Woman's Right to Know

Legislative Alert June 6, 2011 The NC House of Representatives will consider HB 854-Woman's Right to Know, probably on Tuesday, June 7. This important measure will require abortionists to provide information to their patients about the abortion procedure. A woman considering an abortion will also have the opportunity to see an ultrasound of her unborn child before choosing to have the abortion. Legislative staff estimates this bill will save the lives of almost 3,000 children each year. Contact your State Representative NOW! HB 854, will require all doctors who do abortions to provide specific information to the women who are making the irreversible decision to end the life of their unborn child. The bill requires a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion could be performed in North Carolina. That time period would start after the woman is provided with the following information: The medical risks associated with the procedure The psychological risks The probable gestational age of the unborn child Information about the opportunity to view an ultrasound The name of the physician who will perform the abortion Whether the abortionist has malpractice liability insurance The location of the hospital that offers obstetrical or gynecological care within 30 miles where the abortionist has clinical privileges, should hospitalization be necessary This bill is expected to go to full House for a vote as early as Tuesday, June 7. It must pass the House before the "crossover" deadline at the end of the day on June 9. Please go to our Citizen Action Center and call or email your representative by clicking on the link below. Please contact your Representative NOW and ask them to SUPPORT HB 854-Abortion-Woman's Right to Know Act. PS: We hope you will forward this legislative alert to your those who support this effort. Thanks for your help!