Several House committees are investigating Planned Parenthood after the release of secretly-recorded videos from an anti-abortion group, showing Planned Parenthood employees and current and former employees of a fetal tissue procurement firm. Planned Parenthood has no business receiving money from American taxpayers. It passed in a party line vote, with 241 yeas, 187 nays, and 1 present vote.
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The House passed a bill authored by Arizona GOP Rep. Trent Franks on Friday that would require health-care providers to treat babies who are born alive during abortion procedures. As a staunch defender of life, I am also proud to support stronger legal protections for children who are born alive having survived an abortion.
Now, this particular vote might not mean anything long-term, as the bill still has to pass the Senate, and will likely be voted down.
During the floor debate, Republicans argued the two bills had nothing to with a potential shutdown and were focused instead on stopping any federal support for an organization they said engaged in illegal and immoral activity.
Blunt thinks a spending bill can be accomplished in time to avoid a government shutdown on October 1. The almost 700 Planned Parenthood clinics provide sexual disease testing, contraceptives, and abortions. They said the true GOP goal was to whip up conservative voters with bills that would result in diminished health care for women.
With only a few days left before the end of the fiscal year and the possibility of a federal shutdown in sight, the Senate is planning to vote on a spending bill that will include a measure defunding Planned Parenthood.
Lawmakers justified their decision based on highly edited sting videos.
Planned Parenthood gets around $450 million yearly in federal payments, mostly Medicaid reimbursements for handling low-income patients. “The House voting to defund Planned Parenthood is an attack on women’s health – nothing more, nothing less. Republicans should be ashamed”.
Mal Leary reports on Planned Parenthood. “#standwithPP”.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has also weighed in. There are over 13,500 comprehensive health care facilities across the nation – which could receive funding instead of Planned Parenthood (and would under this bill) – as opposed to 665 Planned Parenthood locations. “#StandWithPP”, he tweeted.
Chris Vance is the Republican challenging Murray in 2016. Ted Cruz both advocating for the measure.
Yet it was unclear if those moves would help House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, solve a political Rubik’s Cube.
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If the conservatives can’t be brought along, Boehner might have to seek votes from House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California.
