Infertility

"If you hand out contraception to single women, we’re saying promiscuity is OK as a state, and I am not in support of that," Phillips, R-Kansas City, said in an interview.

Others, including some lawmakers who described themselves as "pro-life," said it was illogical for anti-abortion lawmakers to deny money for contraception to low-income people who use public health clinics.

"It’s going to have the opposite effect of what the intention is, which will be more unwanted pregnancies and more abortions," said Rep.

Kate Meiners, D-Kansas City.

The other alternative is for low-income women to give birth to more children, which is only likely to drive up the state’s costs to provide services to them, said Democratic Rep.

Melba Curls, also of Kansas City.

The family planning program that was canceled in 2003 had provided state grants for women’s health-care services.

Anti-abortion lawmakers had battled in court for years to try to prevent that money from going to Planned Parenthood, which also provides abortions.

This year’s provision, inserted by Rep.

Margaret Donnelly, D-St.

Louis, would have avoided the Planned Parenthood controversy by only providing contraception through public health clinics.

It primarily would have affected women who lack private insurance but who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, which provides contracepti...

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