Tennessee is returning family planning funding that was stripped in Hamilton County because county commissioners wanted to “stop abortions.”  And the science lesson needed to change their minds is a reminder of why legislators should not be making medical decisions.

Via The Times Free Press:

Hamilton County commissioners this morning unanimously agreed to fund a Family Planning program at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department after health department officials gave a lengthy presentation assuring commissioners the money was not used to fund abortions.

“Our family planning program does not provide abortions, abortion counseling or referral,” Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes told commissioners. “Again, nothing to do with abortions.”

On May 4, county commissioners nearly stripped funding from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department’s Family Planning program amid confusion about whether the morning after pill is an abortion pill. They are two separate pills, Barnes explained.

It’s no surprise that the commissioners were so confused, due to the deliberate campaign to attempt to paint all emergency contraception as “abortions.”  In fact, how long before anti-choice advocates try to claim that the morning after pill and the birth control pill are also “abortions” and try to get the funds pulled again?