Letters: Fund cuts could put women at risk

I am greatly disturbed to learn the Department of Health and Hospitals plans to cut funding for cancer testing through the Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program, and to cut breast and cervical cancer treatment through Medicaid.

Recent cuts to Louisiana’s state budget could increase the number of women who suffer and die from breast and cervical cancer ... women such as me.

As a young breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed and treated through the Louisiana Breast & Cervical Health Program, I know firsthand the importance of continued funding. From diagnosis to surgery to physical therapy to chemotherapy to reconstruction, the LBCHP assisted me in every step of the most difficult journey of my life. I cringe to think where I would be today, or even if I would be here today, without this important program.

On behalf of myself and women like me ­­— past, present and future — please do not allow our lawmakers to balance the budget by putting women’s lives at risk. I am asking you and your readers to call your House and Senate members today and tell them to fully restore the state budget.

Kari deSha Millet

small business owner

Gonzales

Comments

1) Comment by InPVille - 23/05/2012

As the following quote from the Advocate Our View: Find Balance in budget bill or May 23 2012 indicates and I quote: "As the Jindal administration has pointed out, the House budget would be a blow to colleges and health care, which would take the vast majority of the cuts. Those are the areas where the most state general fund dollars are available to be cut, and the areas which are much less protected by constitutional and statutory dedications." There is no Republican War on Women here. This situation in Louisiana has been created by PROTECTED CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY DEDICATIONS. Were I a cynic, I might conclude that education and health care were left off the constitutional and statutory dedications list because it would be easier for politicians to gain public support to "justify" increasing taxes in order to prevent cutting spending in these two vital areas instead of the things on the "protected" list. But whatever the reason, it is only too obvious that money can only be cut where it is possible to cut money. . . unless you can gain support to raise taxes to prevent the cuts. What is the likelihood of that at the current time? You tell me.

2) Comment by twinkie1cat - 20/05/2012

It's just another battle in the Republican War on Women. Why would conservatives want to protect women, especially women who would go to a publicly funded program, meaning they are likely to vote for Democrats, from death from cancer. I hope Louisiana women take note of this and stop automatically voting Republican. They are not pro-life unless they strive to protect the lives that are already with us. So they are not worthy of your vote. Use the brains that God gave you, ladies. Protect yourself and your kids. Remove from office every one of Jindal's yes men who vote for this.

3) Comment by SuzanneMS - 19/05/2012

You need to be sending these letters to your state representatives and senators. They are claiming that none of their constituents are complaining about the budget cuts.

4) Comment by DMJ - 19/05/2012

This is Jindal's Louisiana.

5) Comment by lovemykids - 19/05/2012

Maybe if women had to take erectile dysfunction medicine, like viagra, for cancer their services would not be cut.

6) Comment by Whatnow - 18/05/2012

Wonderful letter, Kari! You are an inspiration.