HR 3762-which originated in the House and was amended by the Senate- would strip Planned Parenthood of federal Medicaid funding for one year, denying millions of low-income people around the country access to preventive health care including cancer screenings and contraception.
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In a 52-47 vote, the Senate passed a fast-track measure Thursday created to unravel key ObamaCare provisions and defund Planned Parenthood for one year. However, following the release of undercover sting videos, dozens of conservative Republicans pledged to stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood by any means necessary, despite the fact no federal dollars are allocated to abortions.
Planned Parenthood, a long-time target of anti-abortion forces, has come under fire after secretly recorded videos showed group officials discussing their provision of fetal tissue to scientists.
GOP leaders initially encountered objections from some moderate Republicans leery of cutting Planned Parenthood’s funds, as well as from presidential contenders Sens.
But stripping federal funds from Planned Parenthood may not be a slam-dunk. Throwing subsidized Americans back into the ranks of the uninsured will make their health care massively more expensive, if not prohibitively so.
Operation Rescue understands that the bill will be vetoed by President Barack Obama, a radical abortion supporter. It was brought to the floor by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
On Thursday evening, the Republicans were voting on legislation that encompassed their favorite goals: defunding Planned Parenthood and repealing aspects of Obamacare.
In another largely party-line vote, the House voted 240 to 189 to approve similar legislation in October, although changes to the language of the Senate version of the bill will require another vote in the House.
The measure guts Obamacare by repealing authority for the federal government to run healthcare exchanges and scrapping subsidies to help people afford plans bought through those exchanges, according to The Hill. For the first time, Republicans used the reconciliation process to avoid the necessity of gathering 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. “What they got instead was the cold shoulder of indifference”, Laguens said.
GOP lawmakers said the overall bill could serve as a bridge to a future Republican health care law. “With this victory in the Senate, and guaranteed passage in the House, we have achieved an unprecedented political victory!” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.
It repeals the expansion of Medicaid adopted by 30 states as well as numerous law’s tax increases, which the House bill left in place.
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The legislation would repeal sections of Obamacare that mandate individuals to purchase health insurance and employers with more than 50 employees to provide it and would eliminate all fines for those that fail to comply. Though Obama’s overhaul was enacted five years ago, Republicans have yet to produce a detailed proposal to replace it.
