Although numerous investigations into the heavily-edited videos targeting Planned Parenthood have shown no evidence of wrongdoing, several states have called for the defunding of the women’s health care provider. On Tuesday, the Ohio House voted to remove Planned Parenthood’s Title X funds following this summer’s release of the controversial videos. Ohio senators want the $1.3 million Planned Parenthood gets for health services — such as HIV and STD testing — to instead be given to a specific list of alternative providers. However, many of the places listed, such as dental offices and food banks, do not provide STI testing or other reproductive health services.
One of the locations, the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati, told the Guardian it doesn’t actually provide health services and is “just a drug and alcohol treatment center.” Another location only specified dental work as their offered health treatment. So, Ohio lawmakers want the funds to be distributed to places where their state’s female population will adequately receive teeth cleanings, but what about annual exams, STD testing and treatment, contraception and sexual health education?