“Dumb.” That’s how Rep. Betty McCollum characterized proposed cuts to federal family planning funding and a Republican effort to defund Planned Parenthood. At a St. Paul Planned Parenthood clinic Thursday, she also noted that Republicans refused to cut Pentagon funding for NASCAR, but remain adamant about cuts she says could have devastating effects for Minnesota women and children.

Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota president Sarah Stoesz introduced McCollum at the press event.

“It’s a challenging time for women’s health and for all of us who care about women in this country,” she said. “We’ve been under quite an attack,” referencing conservative bloggers’ campaign against the health care nonprofit as well as congressional actions to bar federal funds from going to its clinics.

“We do provide abortion services — that’s true we do — it’s about 5 percent of what we do, but primarily what we do is protect the lives and health of women,” she said.

To underscore that point, a clinic patient told the story of her sister, who lives in rural Minnesota near Mankato and whose life she says was saved by the health care group.

“Planned Parenthood is the reason my sister’s cervical cancer was found early and treated successfully,” she said. “My sister’s story has a very happy ending because of Planned Parenthood.”

GOP budget cuts in the U.S. House would eliminate federal Title X funding, a part of which helps support cancer screenings at clinics such as Planned Parenhood’s.

“Who would have though that we would have to be concerned about women’s reproductive rights, women’s rights in 2011 in America,” she said.

She said that the proposed cuts and calls to defund Planned Parenthood involve debates over abortion, but the services of Planned Parenthood are much broader.

“Yes, there are needed at times — it should be extremely rare and in a moment of difficult emotional crisis for women — to look at having an abortion, but that’s 5 percent of what Planned Parenthood does,” said McCollum.

“Ninety-five percent of what Planned Parenthood does is the first line of defense in women’s reproductive health and total overall health,” she added.

She continued, “We can make smart cuts or we can make dumb cuts — and cutting Title X is a dumb cut.”

In the Republicans’ proposed budget, Title X funding would be completely slashed from the federal budget, and those funds are used for health care screenings for women and birth control services. Under federal law, the funds cannot go to abortion services.

Republicans targeting WIC as well

The GOP is also proposing cuts to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program.

“We heard defense spending was off the table, that we could not cut defense spending, but what the House decided we needed were two different engines for one piece of military equipment and that we had to protect the military’s ability to purchase decals for NASCARs,” she said.

“I think there’s room to cut in the Pentagon. There should be room for children, and women who are expecting, to have access to basic nutrition in the United States of America.”

McCollum has been a major force in trying to cut NASCAR funding from the federal budget, a cause that resulted in death threats being sent to her office.

“And they are talking about more cuts,” she continued, adding that a government shutdown is looming. “No more of these stupid, dumb cuts that are going to hurt women, hurt families, and hurt communities. It’s so foolish to even talk about cutting nutrition for women who are either nursing or preparing to deliver a child.”

McCollum, who recently visited Yemen where citizens are calling for Democratic reforms and more rights for women, said she spoke with people who were surprised by Republicans’ plans to cut programs for women and children.

“When they pick up the paper and read that we are cutting it off, they said, ‘This isn’t the America we know,’” she said.

Ultimately, she said that the majority of Americans support Title X programs — even Republicans.

“There are a lot of Republicans and independents that support access to mammographies, cervical cancer screenings and ensuring families can plan by having access to birth control,” she said.

“We can’t let a small group of people hold us hostage on the way forward in the United States.”

“Because of this executive order, the state of Minnesota will not be allowed to share in the bipartisan progress made through health care reform. It’s an unconscionable move at the expense of the health of Minnesotans,” said Sarah Stoesz, president of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota on Tuesday. “This action has moved Minnesota from the cutting edge to the back of the line.”

PPMNS had also criticized Pawlenty the day before due to his decision to reject more than $800,000 in sex education funds in favor of a matching grant for abstinence-only-until-marriage education.

Dan McGrath of the progressive TakeAction Minnesota blamed Pawlenty’s presidential ambitions — as have others — for the executive order.

“Governor Pawlenty turned in his veto pen for a heavy-duty paint sprayer. It is by now old news that Gov. Pawlenty’s agenda is geared towards his planned run for U.S. President in 2012,” he said Tuesday. “The developing story is the toll that Gov. Pawlenty’s run for office will take on Minnesotans. With one broad stroke, today’s executive order derisively rejects a multitude of valuable opportunities to expand and improve health care for Minnesotans.”

Tom Horner, Independence Party candidate for governor, also characterized the order as political posturing for Pawlenty’s presumed 2012 presidential run.

“Minnesotans are tired of the narrow partisan interests taking priority over the best interests of the state — especially when those most hurt are 130,000 low-income Minnesotans who will continue to go with inadequate or no health care coverage,” he said. “This isn’t good policy, it’s politics to advance the Republican platform.”

He added, “This is one time when the governor just needs to say ‘Yes’ — for all Minnesotans.”

But, Kip Sullivan, health care policy expert and author of “The Health Care Mess,” said that while the impact to the budget will be minimal, the order will make it much harder for the state to implement mandated portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

“I have heard that the grants are miniscule relative to state health care expenditures, so I doubt that an order prohibiting the state from applying for planning grants will cost us much money,” he told the Minnesota Independent. “What I think it will do is make the legislature’s job of figuring out how to comply with PPACA more difficult. PPACA is mind-numbingly complex, and much of the work of implementing PPACA was delegated to the states.”

Sullivan, a supporter of single-payer health care and a critic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, added, “That’s not all bad. The central planks of PPACA – the exchanges and the individual mandate – are bad policy.”

The well-heeled donors were joined by representatives from labor unions, Native American tribes and progressive policy groups. Shar Knutson, the newly elected president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO was on hand, as was Sarah Stoesz, president of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. There were also representatives from Education Minnesota, AFSCME and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

The impetus for this gathering: ending the Democrats’ more than two-decade drought in gubernatorial contests and forming a new political-action committee designed to raise money and have a major impact on the outcome of the race.

Opperman didn’t return a phone call seeking comment, and most other people who attended the meeting either declined to discuss the details or didn’t respond to calls seeking comment. “I don’t know that I feel real comfortable talking too much about it,” says Doran, in a typical response.

The organization responsible for putting the event together is Win Minnesota. The nonprofit organization has existed for several years, but the establishment of the political-action committee is a new development.

Ken Martin has been brought on as the organization’s executive director. He’s no stranger to electoral politics. In 2006 he served as campaign manager for DFL gubernatorial nominee Mike Hatch. Two years earlier he ran John Kerry’s presidential campaign in Minnesota.

“There’s nothing too mysterious about what we do here,” says Martin. “Our focus is on building a permanent progressive infrastructure that exists beyond campaigns and elections.”

Martin declined to get into the specifics of the meeting at Opperman’s office. But according to one person who attended the gathering the initial goal is to raise $2 million to bankroll what’s being billed as The 2010 Fund. The labor unions, Native American tribes and policy groups were each asked to come up with at least $50,000 initially. That money would then be matched by individual donors.

“Pooling our resources will allow us to do more and with little to no duplication,” reads a description of the fund that was handed out to attendees.

The document, a copy of which was obtained by Minnesota Independent, also describes the obstacles facing Democrats in 2010, including a crowded primary field and the possibility of a strong Independence Party candidate. There are currently 11 Democrats who have filed to run for the post.

“A competitive endorsement and primary contest will (1) drain our candidate of money (2) focus the conversation away from the general election voters and, (3) allow the GOP and IP candidates a free ride thru the spring and summer of 2010,” the document notes.

The establishment of the political fund more than a year before the gubernatorial contest is another sign that Democrats are serious about winning the state’s top office for the first time since 1986.

The stakes in the 2010 contest are even higher than usual because of the looming census. With Democrats already carrying large majorities in the state House and Senate, a win in the gubernatorial contest would essentially mean that they would control the redistricting process that follows the census. Current projections show Minnesota losing one of its congressional seats.

In some ways the Win Minnesota effort will serve as a counterbalance to the ReNew Minnesota campaign being spearheaded by TakeAction Minnesota. While the latter effort is geared around grassroots organizing and ensuring that the eventual DFL nominee embraces a liberal policy platform, the Win Minnesota program will likely rely more on large amounts of cash and paid media.

Photo: Dobak, Flickr

Women living in rural Minnesota face poor health outcomes according to a report released by Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota (PPMNS) on Wednesday. A lack of health insurance and clinics, along with factors like poverty, geographic isolation and even Minnesota’s extreme winters all impact the ability of rural women to access health care. The organization says that as Congress debates health care reform, the needs of rural women must be addressed.

“The data gathered by experts on the state and national level show what [Planned Parenthood] knows firsthand — that rural women are more likely to live in poverty, more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, and more likely to have limited health care resources available than are their urban counterparts,” said Sarah Stoesz, president of PPMNS.

In Minnesota, one in four women live in non-metropolitan areas, a rate higher than states that are traditionally seen as rural, such as Alabama, Texas and Utah. Forty percent of Minnesotans live in areas where there is no access to primary health clinics.

Getting to a health care clinic 100 miles away in the dead of winter can be a challenge in Minnesota. “Minnesota’s severe weather, coupled with limited public transportation options and rural roads in disrepair, can make accessing health care nearly impossible for rural residents,” the report said.

While Planned Parenthood serves low-income patients — statewide, 50 percent of patients are living in poverty — among clinics in greater Minnesota, 63 percent are below the poverty line. At the Planned Parent clinic in Thief River Falls, 75 percent of patients were living below the poverty line and at Willmar clinic that number was 61 percent.

Only 3 percent of Minnesotans accessing care at Planned Parenthood’s rural clinics could afford the care they received and half had no health insurance. In Moorhead, 54 percent of patients lacked health insurance; among Duluth residents, 53 percent were uninsured, and in St. Cloud, 49 percent had no health insurance.

Due to these factors, rural women in Minnesota are 30 percent more likely to be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer than those living in urban and suburban areas. Forty-three of Minnesota’s counties have higher rates of teen pregnancy than the state average and all but two are in greater Minnesota. While rates of gonorrhea infections among women remained stable in urban and suburban areas, rural Minnesota was the only place where state officials saw in increase in cases.

Rural women also have higher rates of obesity, mental illness and suicide, nicotine addiction and substance abuse.

“Geography and economic status should not determine a woman’s health or her fate,” said Stoesz. “The demand for health care is urgent and the value of prevention, the cornerstone of Planned Parenthood services, is self-evident.”

Stoesz is urging Congress to include rural women’s needs, particularly those around reproductive health, as it debates health care reform. The group identifies three priorities to improve health for rural women: Access to affordable health care services for all women, including comprehensive reproductive health care, regardless of income; coverage for basic, preventive health care services that specifically impact women; and protections for trusted safety net providers on whom women depend for their care, particularly given the shortage of primary care providers in rural communities.

“The benefits of preventive care outweigh the costs from a public health perspective and a fiscal perspective,” Kathi Di Nicola, director of communications for PPMNS, told the Minnesota Independent. “For every dollar invested in preventive reproductive health care, over $5 is saved in the subsequent cost of unintended pregnancy.”

More than 90 percent of PPMNS’ patients in greater Minnesota are women, and they access the organizations services for a variety of reasons including reproductive health services and general health services such as diabetes screening and cholesterol checks.

While they haven’t necessarily seen an increase in patients during the recession, Di Nicola says they have seen “an uptick in patients saying they’ve just lost their jobs and insurance and are returning to us for care.”

In a press release accompanying the report, Stoesz urged local and national leaders not to overlook the health needs of rural women as the debate surrounding health reform intensifies.

“Improving the health status of rural women will require health systems that adequately consider and respond to the unique needs of rural women. As the nation discusses various models of health care reform, it is essential that any emerging proposals comprehensively address the complex needs faced by rural Minnesotans,” Stoesz wrote.

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum:

The Minnesota Supreme Court has left no doubt that Al Franken won the 2008 race for the U.S. Senate and should immediately be sworn-in as Minnesota’s newest Senator. I am very pleased to welcome Senator-elect Franken to the Minnesota congressional delegation and I look forward to working with him on important issues, like health care reform and creating new jobs to get our economy back on track.

Tony Sutton, Chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota:

Todays ruling wrongly disenfranchised thousands of Minnesotans who deserve to have their votes counted. Alongside Senator Coleman, the Republican Party of Minnesota has fought to make sure every vote counts and all voters are treated fairly and uniformly. As we move forward, our deeply flawed election system must be dramatically improved to ensure our state’s elections are fair, accurate and reliable.

Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota:

Today’s ruling restores full and fair representation to the citizens of the state of Minnesota. Health care reform, probably the most important legislation of our generation, is being debated in Congress and Minnesotans deserve to have two United States Senators representing their interests in Washington.

Linda Slattengren, President of the Minnesota Nurses Association:

Minnesota’s highest court has affirmed the peoples voice, the election judges, and a lower court in Al Frankens right to be seated as our state’s second U.S. Senator. Let’s get him to work on the people’s business of fixing our broken health care system through federal reform and RN staffing legislation, and protecting workers’ rights through the Employee Free Choice and RESPECT Acts.

Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign President:

Senator-elect Franken has been a long time supporter and strong advocate for fairness and equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. His leadership in the United States Senate will help to ensure that all people in Minnesota, and throughout the country, are treated equally. We were honored to endorse Senator-elect Franken’s
candidacy last March and we look forward to working with him in the U.S. Senate to promote the basic tenant of our democracy that all Americans have full equality under the law.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar:

I congratulate Al Franken on a hard-earned and long-awaited election victory. I welcome him as my new Senate colleague from Minnesota.

I respect Norm Coleman for what I’m sure was a very difficult decision. He had the right to pursue a legal appeal, but he chose to do the right thing for Minnesota. Norm was my Senate colleague for two years. Although on opposite sides of the aisle, we often worked together on issues affecting Minnesota, in particular securing quick federal support for rebuilding the 35W Bridge. Norm is a dedicated public servant. As a Senator, he took to heart his duty to represent and serve the people of Minnesota.

Ray Waldron, President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO:

After a number of people asked Senator Franken to concede in November, he stood his ground and said, “I don’t think so.” This is what we expect for a senator in the State of Minnesota who, in the Paul Wellstone mode, went against the tide and declared it was not over. We are thankful for his strong and steady convictions, and we look forward to working with our new United States Senator.

PPMNS has accepted the help of the U.S. Marshals. The group provides reproductive health services in Minnesota and the Dakotas. It is the only provider of abortion services in South Dakota.

“In the wake of the tragic murder of Dr. George Tiller, PPMNS has accepted an offer to supplement our present security with support from the U.S. Marshals Service,” Sarah Stoesz, president of PPMNS told the Washington Post. “It is critically important that we ensure the safety of our doctors, staff and patients.”