State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and other community leaders today urged Pennsylvanians to help defend women's health care against a lawsuit by Republican leaders in Harrisburg.

“Republicans put stealth language in the state budget that would deny access to health care for low-income women, and Governor Rendell used his line-item veto power to get rid of that restriction,” Frankel said. “The speaker of the House has said we may soon vote on whether to override that veto.

“Pennsylvanians can stop this attack on women by calling their state representatives and senators. All you need to say is, ‘Protect health care for vulnerable women -- vote no on the veto override.'

“This isn't about abortion. This is about health care for low-income women. The women we're talking about have little or no health insurance, and they shouldn't be used as targets in the culture wars.”

Frankel was joined by Allen Kukovich, director of the governor's southwest regional office, and representatives of the Family Health Council and Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania.

Kukovich said, “I support Representative Frankel for two very important reasons. First, if this lawsuit is successful, it endangers the health of many Pennsylvania women. Secondly, the lawsuit could cause the state to violate federal regulations and result in a loss of funding to Pennsylvania.”

The 2005-06 state budget that passed in July included Republican-authored language that would have restricted Pennsylvania's ability to apply for federal Medicaid money for family planning services for low-income women. Republican leaders have sued to overturn Rendell's line-item veto of their restriction.

“I find the Republican lawsuit ironic for two reasons: family planning services reduce the number of abortions, and I thought Republicans were opposed to frivolous lawsuits,” Frankel said.

Frankel said several previous governors have used the line-item veto power the same way Rendell did.

Frankel has noted that 21 other states already have approved Medicaid funding for family planning programs. The federal and state money would help to improve access to women's health-care services, including breast and cervical cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease testing and contraception for women who otherwise would be unable to obtain these services. The federal government provides up to a 90 percent funding match to expand Medicaid eligibility for these services.