Poet laureate to visit UTSA: Page 5
‘Runners snap losing streak: Page 7
Independent Student Ne wspaper for the University of Te xas at San Antonio
November 13, 2012
Volume 47
Issue 25
Planned Parenthood caught in political limbo Lorilee Merchant Intern
Katy Schmader / The Paisano
news@paisano-online.com President Obama and Governor Rick Perry joined the ongoing debate about healthcare for economically disadvantaged women in Texas. The Obama administration is threatening to halt federal funding to the Texas Women’s Health Program (WHP) in response to Governor Perry’s decision to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. Governor Perry, however, assured women in Texas, “I will not stand by and let this administration abandon these Texas women to advance its political agenda; Texas will fund these services with or without the federal government,” according to the Governor Perry’s website. “The Women’s Health Program has been in effect since 2007 and provides preventative health care, including breast and cervical cancer screenings to more than 100,000 low-income Texas women,” according to a government press release on Oct. 31. Since the launch of the program on Jan. 1, 2007, WHP has received 90 percent of funds from Medicaid. “From the beginning, elective abortions, affiliates of abortion providers and advocating abortion as a means of birth control have been banned from the program. Federal funding also excludes elective abortions,” said editorial director Mike Norman of Ft. Worth Star-Telegram. Until reauthorization last year, Texas had not put a ban on abortion affiliates. Rules were drafted by the Department of State Health Services to enforce the ban. “Federal officials said banning providers based on services they or their affiliates offer is against Medicaid guidelines. They said the new Texas rules meant Medicaid funds would be
withdrawn from the Women’s Health Program, beginning as soon as Nov. 1,” Norman said. Governor Perry and State Health Commissioner Kyle Janek “have put in place plenty of providers for the new state-financed program, enough to take over Planned Parenthood’s patient load,” according to Norman. Deputy Press Secretary Lucy Nashed said, “The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has already identified state funding for the state-run program and has signed up 3,000 qualified providers. The WHP will not be cut—the state has already announced that it is ready to implement its own state-funded program that will provide the same services as the current program within the parameters of our state law—i.e. without contracting with abortion providers or their affiliates. In the meantime, we’re still fighting to keep the federal dollars while operating the program under our state law.” “[Planned Parenthood] filed a lawsuit against the Texas Women’s Health Program because one of the state program rules prevents clinics associated with Planned Parenthood from receiving funding if they perform abortions. Planned Parenthood argued that the rule violates state law,” Charles Poladian of International Business Times said. Poladian continued, “Although Planned Parenthood does provide abortions, its clinics affiliated with the Texas Women’s Health Program do not perform abortions, but they are nonetheless being punished because they are affiliated with an abortion provider.” Planned Parenthood filed in state court, hoping to argue that the rule violates Texas state law. “The argument goes that state law bars any rule that causes a loss in federal funding for the Texas Women’s Health Program,” See PLANNED, Page 2
Voting Rights Act goes to Supreme Court Corey Franco Paseo Assistant
news@paisano-online.com On Nov. 9, three days after the nation elected Barack Obama for his second term in office, the Supreme Court announced that it will review Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires certain state and local governments to seek federal approval before making any changes to their voting laws. The 1965 ruling was set in place to protect minority voters from discrimination at the polls in states and select counties that have a history of racial discrimination. The review was prompted by a challenge from Shelby County, Ala., filed two years ago. The court’s decision to accept this challenge creates the second major case this term involving race. Last month, the justices also heard a challenge to the University of Texas admissions policy that could redefine or eliminate the use of affirmative action in highereducation admissions, accord-
ing to the Wall Street Journal. These recent actions by the Supreme Court have sparked an ensuing commentary on the present state of race relations in America. Debo Adegbile, acting president and director-counsel of
times since 1982 to prevent state and local rule changes from going into effect. The Supreme Court saw no reason to intervene in any of those 2,400 times.” In this past election, the pre-approval legislation has
lines following a census and Texas falls under the preclearance provisions of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Election Day exit polls showed a record voter turnout of minority groups. “Exit polls across the country in-
“Congress unwisely reautho-
rized a bill that is stuck in a Jim Crow-era time warp. It is unconstitutional.” Edward Blum
Director of Project on Fair Representation the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund stated, “This is a term in which many core pillars of civil rights and pathways to opportunity hang in the balance,” according to the Washington Post. According to the Examiner, “The pre-clearance provision…has been used 2,400
intervened in several cases in Texas, Florida and South Carolina. In Texas and South Carolina, the courts prevented the laws from going forward, citing that doing so would put an undue burden on the rights of many citizens to vote.” Redistricting is the redrawing of congressional district
dicated that Obama won the votes of more than 70 percent of Hispanics and more than 90 percent of blacks. In Alabama, however, the exit polls showed Obama won about only 15 percent of the state’s white voters. In neighboring Mississippi, the numbers were even smaller, at 10 percent, the
surveys found,” reported the Washington Post. The plaintiffs argue that laws like the Voting Rights Act are outdated. According to the Washington Post, Edward Blum, director of Project on Fair Representation, said, “the America that elected and reelected Barack Obama as its first African-American president is far different than when the Voting Rights Act was first enacted in 1965.” The Project on Fair Representation funds the challenges to the Voting Rights Act and affirmative action. “Congress unwisely reauthorized a bill that is stuck in a Jim Crow-era time warp. It is unconstitutional,” Blum stated. However, the precedent argued that the current legislation is a necessity based on the area’s historical evidence of discrimination. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Supreme Court arguments in both the Affirmative Action and Voting Rights Act cases are likely to be heard early next year. Decisions are expected by the end of June.
SA voters invest in education Jennifer Alejos Intern
news@paisano-online.com On Nov. 6, San Antonio voters passed the Pre-K 4 SA initiative. The new plan promises to put tax dollars to work for young students. Pre-K 4 SA is a program that passed during this year’s election with 54 percent of the vote. In its eight-year span, the program plans to aid 22,400 children who are attending pre-kindergarten for the first time while improving the current education system for schools throughout the city. Annually, the program will benefit 3,700 children, according to the initiative information guide. Eligibility requirements include: “at or below 185 percent of federal poverty level; English as a second language; child of active duty member of U.S. Armed Forces; child of injured or deceased member of U.S. Armed Forces; homeless; currently or previously in foster care,” according to the city of San Antonio website. As part of the plan, Pre-K 4 SA will
“San Antonians made the right decision tonight,” Julian Castro
Mayor of San Antonio
administer training programs for teachers in grades pre-k through third grade. The goal of the initiative is to boost literacy rates throughout the city, according to the city of San Antonio’s website. Parental involvement is a crucial component. Parents will be asked to participate in parent leadership and education classes. The purpose is to have the parent engaged in the program to ensure that their child is gaining a balanced education and is receiving help outside of the classroom, according to the plan’s website. Rebecca Flores, the City of San Antonio’s education coordinator, said that the estimated sales tax rate per person will be $7.81 per year, which adds up to $31 million per year in taxes. The initiative also plans to use additional state and federal funds to aid the program. “The next step is creating a board of directors and getting leasing agreements to get it rolling,” Flores said. The initiative plans to create four new facilities in different parts of the city to reach a wide demographic. City officials project to open facilities in the northwest and southeast areas of San Antonio next August. According to the Pre-K 4 SA information guide, the initiative is an eightyear program, with the first three years consisting of a build-up in student enrollment. The next five years will be targeted toward full enrollment and program implementation. On the night of the election, Mayor Julian Castro who spearheaded the PreK 4 SA initiative, said, “I want to thank everyone for their support for Pre-K 4 SA, which is a great investment for the children of San Antonio. I think San Antonians made the right decision toSee PRE-K 4 SA, Page 2