We got our first call today asking if we would be open for business during a government shut down. In short, the answer is yes. More troubling is the long term picture for clinics like ours. Here are the issues:
1. Planned Parenthood under fire. We are not a Planned Parenthood affiliate so this issue does not affect us directly. However, the attacks on funding Planned Parenthood show political will to end all family planning programs. Also, if Planned Parenthoods across the country shut down, who will see those clients?
2. Title X funding under fire. The House Republican's budget proposal to zero out Title X funding for the remainder of 2011 is not likely to be enacted, but if it did? That money is what we use to buy your birth control and provide you services. If it was gone, we would have to charge everyone higher fees or shut our doors.
What can you do? Well, you can call your Congresswoman. You can donate money to our clinic to help it stay afloat. You can keep yourself aware of the issues. We need your support  if we are going to survive the recession and the related political discussions!