Senate Votes to Defund Planned Parenthood – Here’s What That Means For You

Senate Republicans brushed aside five years of frustration Thursday and fast-tracked an Obamacare repeal bill to President Obama’s desk, fulfilling their pledge to hold Democrats and the White House accountable for a 2010 law they still view as fiscally ruinous and politically misguided. Regardless in that the bill is predicted to pass within the Senate after today, it isn’t expected to ever turn in to law.

Less than a week after three people were killed and nine others injured at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, the Senate on Thursday came one step closer to blocking all federal funding to the nation’s largest women’s health care organization.

In this December 1, 2015, photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., joined by Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, tells reporters that he’s confident he will have enough support on an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act this week during a news conference following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. The White House has pledged that Obama will veto it. Republicans lack the two-thirds House and Senate majorities needed to override a veto.

Democrats are pushing a doomed effort to stop the cuts to Planned Parenthood. He says that’s what the American people want and that’s what they deserve.

“My concern is that this total prohibition of federal funding, including Medicaid funds, for Planned Parenthood would cause millions of women across the country to have to find new health care providers”, said Collins.

Earlier in the day, the reconciliation bill faced another political test when Senate Democrats sought to include gun control measures in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. An amendment to expand background checks for those trying to purchase guns at shows or on the Internet failed, 50 to 48, while one to bar those on the terrorist watchlist from buying guns was defeated, 54 to 45. But the Medicaid provision could cost votes from other Republicans, who are up for re-election in competitive states.

“In case my republican colleagues are suffering from short-term memory loss, let me spell this out again, loud and clear: We will not allow you to turn back the clock on women’s health and women’s rights”, she said. That would allow Republicans to argue that the bill creates a two-year bridge until the next president takes office and can offer a replacement health care plan.

With GOP leaders insisting they had the votes they’d need, Sen.

Planned Parenthood has denied that it broke any laws and accepted illegal compensation. They were able to do that through the 1996 Congressional Regulatory Review Act, which also requires only a majority vote. “In the Senate, Sen”. Public opinion favors Republicans when these issues are considered more generally.

Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who are running for president, and Sen.