The House of Representatives voted for an amendment to a federal spending bill that would deny all federal support to any organization that provides abortion services. Planned Parenthood was the target.

Federal law already bars public funds from being used for abortions. Safe, legal abortions are a tiny part of the services Planned Parenthood provides, and it uses private funds for them.

Last year, the organization used its $363 million dollars in federal funds to pay for a million cervical cancer screenings; 830,000 breast exams. Its clinics provided contraception to 2.5 million men and women. They screened and treated 4 million patients for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

In a recent survey of Planned Parenthood patients in California, 70% said they or a family member had lost a job. More than half said they had avoided going to a doctor because they couldn't afford it.

Without access to basic health care Planned Parenthood provides, more women will die, fewer children will receive pre- and post-natal care. There will be more unwanted pregnancies and, ironically, more abortions.

Ginger Rutland writes for The Sacramento Bee opinion pages.