House Republicans continue to insist on cutting funding for Planned Parenthood and other health centers before agreeing to keep government running. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today called for a fair budget and an end to Republican threats of government shut down if they do not get their way in cutting funding for women’s health care.  "I feel strongly that my Republican colleagues are wrong in trying to move toward deficit reduction solely on the backs of working families and the middle class – cutting education and head start, cutting community health centers, cutting the social security administration, cutting LIHEAP and other important programs," Sanders said.  "In my view, with the wealthiest people in our country doing extremely well, the people on top should also be asked to contribute toward deficit reduction. Further, the idea that the Republicans are prepared to shut-down the government over the funding of women’s health care is totally absurd."

In Vermont, there are 10 such health centers providing contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and life-saving cancer screenings.  Last year at these health centers, women and men received 27,000 tests for sexually transmitted infections, women received 7,800 cervical cancer screenings, women received 9,600 breast cancer exams, and over 16,000 women received contraception consultations.