Urge Idaho's senators not to approve Price

The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees health care policy and spending, as well as critical government agencies like the CDC and FDA. Trump’s nominee is Representative Tom Price, R-Ga. Senate hearings are scheduled for Jan. 18.

Rep. Price has voted against women’s health and reproductive rights at least 30 times in the last few years. He’s falsely claimed that no woman in America has had difficulty paying for birth control, when research shows that at least one in three women voters have struggled to afford it (including half of young women aged 18-34). His voting record is out of step with the majority of Americans, who support access to reproductive health care at Planned Parenthood.

Affordability is not the only issue. When I was a young woman, I could have afforded birth control. But there was then no place to get it except Planned Parenthood. There is no Planned Parenthood in North Idaho. We are served by Spokane. This means that many of our young women do not get birth control no matter what the price. Nor significant sex education.

Birth control allowed me more choices: I became a college professor at a time when motherhood would have made that choice difficult, if not impossible. I also did not become a single mother as did many of my contemporaries. This not only benefitted me, it increased federal and state tax revenues over the course of my lifetime and decreased government and health care spending.

Please ask our senators not to confirm Rep. Price. Tell them your own story about reproductive health care and why Planned Parenthood is important to Idaho. Phone calls count more than emails.

n Sen. Mike Crapo — 208-664-5490, crapo.senate.gov

n Sen. James Risch — 208-667-6130, risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/myoffices

In his farewell speech, Obama was clear. We are ones that make America great, not the politicians, not the money, not the media. Do something, no matter your political stripe. For instance, join me at the Sandpoint Community March, Jan 21, at 11 a.m. at the Panida, 300 N. First Ave. There will be lots of people there with lots of ideas what to do.

NANCY GERTH

Sagle