WILDER — After a three-hour meeting, Northern Kentucky's public health board agreed Wednesday to keep federal family planning money to pay for birth control pills for poor women. The vote was close enough to require a tie-breaker.

Anne Maxfield of the American Cancer Society cheers as the Title X vote is completed Wednesday night. (Brandi Stafford photos) | ZOOM |

        Board Chairman Greg Kennedy of Grant County broke the 13-13 tie with his vote of “no” — rejecting a proposal to decline federal Title X money for the standard birth control pill on the grounds that it causes abortions.

        The issue had generated intense national interest.

        The Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Board would have been the first in the nation to reject federal family planning money for standard birth control pills and IUDs. A capacity crowd of 550 packed a room at the Marquise Banquet & Conference Center in Wilder for the vote. National organizations monitoring the vote included the the American Life League to Planned Parenthood.

        The proposal to cut $170,000 in federal Title X family planning funds for contraceptives and services such as Pap smears, breast exams and screenings for sexually transmitted diseases would have essentially classified standard birth control pills as abortion agents. The money now goes to the Northern Kentucky Health Department.

Sandra Jones of Covington prays during the vote on whether to reject federal funding for family planning services. | ZOOM |

        Northern Kentucky Right to Life President Robert Cetrulo, whose organization strongly supported the measure to cut the funds, said after the vote, “Of course we are disappointed. It's not over. We will be back.”

        After casting the tie-breaking vote, Mr. Kennedy said, “I'm just glad that we will be able to continue to provide those services.”

        He said he had met with state officials last week and got no guarantee of who would provide family planning services to the indigent women in four counties who make up 85 percent of Title X services recipients.

        In Wilder, attendees at the health board's meeting were met at the door by backers from both sides.

        On one side, people were handing out pro-choice stickers and signs reading “No Kentucky Taliban.” On the other side, people carrying signs saying “Title X pays for abortifacients” and “Title X feeds the spread of STDs” greeted meeting-goers.

        Security was tight, with Wilder police officers stationed in the room. But there were no outbursts as each board member gave a five-minute statement and cast a vote.

        There was some confusion as the tie became apparent. The tally was unclear and double-checked. Then, Mr. Kennedy announced that he would break the tie and vote “no.”

        The board chairman can vote only in the event of tie.

        As soon as the final decision was announced, supporters of Title X funding and reproductive rights rose from their chairs in applause.

        Members of the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice traveled to the meeting from Louisville to support local reproductive rights.

        The majority of the people attending the meeting were women.

        “We believe women have the right to make their own decisions about reproduction,” said the Rev. Gilbert Schroerlucke, a group member.

        “While I'm not denying people choice, I don't think taxpayers should be forced to fund abortifacients,” said Kathy Thamann, 51, of Fort Mitchell, the mother of four.

        Ms. Thamann was not happy that people were coming from outside of Northern Kentucky in support of Title X funding at the health department.

        Dozens of people came to the meeting from Louisville and Lexington in support of the funds. Groups including Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union were represented.

        In Northern Kentucky, the Title X program provides contraceptives and other gynecological care for about 4,500 mostly low-income women in Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Grant counties.

        “I'm glad they had the sense to keep this complete OB/GYN medical care for women,” said Kathy Helmbock, spokeswoman for Cincinnati NOW and a member of the Cincinnati Women's Political Caucus.

        ""They realized that by getting rid of Title X they were setting themselves up for a whole lot more abortions and unwanted pregnancies.”

        Those who believe that birth control pills cause abortions say the pill changes the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. Because the change takes place because of a drug — and because they believe that life begins at conception — they say the destruction of that life constitutes an abortion.

        Health board member Barb Black, a registered nurse, said the 15,600-member Christian Medical and Dental Association has said scientific data doesn't “establish a definite causal link” proving that birth control pills cause abortions. She voted “no” to keep the funds.
       

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