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Texas State Senators Vow To Fight Family Planning Cuts

By KRWG News

Texas – State senators say they will try to find more money for family planning services that were drained in a House budget earlier this month.

Members of the upper chamber seem unwilling to leave family planning underfunded, but they will likely have to fight with conservative House members to preserve the funds. The Senate budget approved by the Finance Committee spends $11 billion more than the House version.

The funds help needy women get physical exams, birth control pills and tests for sexually transmitted infections. Advocates warn that gutting these services will result in skyrocketing Medicaid costs.

Some see the cuts as part of a nationwide attack on Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood says the House cuts could deny more than 300,000 women access to basic health care.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.