Conservatives who had worked to oust Boehner for years had pushed GOP leaders to use the spending bill as leverage in a fight over Planned Parenthood funding, urging them to let the government shutter if necessary.
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Roby’s amendment would change the temporary government funding bill to immediately stop all federal funding to Planned Parenthood for the next year until investigations into the organization are seen through. Despite the controversy regarding Planned Parenthood, the government will stay funded through December 11th.
McConnell told reporters Tuesday that he and Boehner have discussed the budget talks with President Obama and expect them to begin “very soon”. A majority of Republicans had voted against the measure as it did not meet conservatives’ demands to cut off money to women’s healthcare provider Planned Parenthood.
The sticking point for weeks had been House Republicans’ desire to keep funding for Planned Parenthood out of any budget, the Hill reports.
Boehner is resigning from Congress at the end of October, a decision he announced last week after informing Republicans he would not risk a government shutdown over Planned Parenthood.
The Senate and then the House are scheduled to vote on the stopgap spending measure on Wednesday.
But thanks to unanimous support from Democrats, the bill was passed easily, ensuring there will be no partial government shutdown when the fiscal year expires at midnight.
Dawn Laguens, the group’s executive vice president, accused Republicans on the House Oversight Committee of “haranguing” Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards during her testimony Tuesday.
The Senate Democratic leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, noted Boehner’s resignation and described the Republicans as being in disarray. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, led conservatives to fight Obama over the Affordable Care Act.
The bill, which earned the support of all Democrats but deeply cleaved the GOP, funds basic government operations through December 11. “Senate Democrats continue to protect Planned Parenthood, even after the release of deeply disturbing videos exposing their practice of selling the fetal tissue of babies who are aborted”.
McConnell said on 29 September that Republicans are preparing for budget negotiations on the impending funding cliff and spending deadlines.
Abraham had advocated for a continuing resolution to de-fund Planned Parenthood.
The organization has said it doesn’t sell fetal tissue for profit, and instead receives the cost of collecting and delivering it. Senate Democrats blocked an earlier measure that would defund the women’s reproductive health-care group.
“We have to do better than just keeping the federal government operating by a continuing resolution”, he said.
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Republicans are seeking an increase in defense spending, while Obama will press for similar hikes for domestic programs.
