Senate Debates Planned Parenthood

The bill sponsored by more than 40 Republican senators was the GOP’s first move to punish Planned Parenthood after undercover videos raised questions about its practice of making fetal tissue available for medical research. Democrats successfully blocked the legislation with a 53 to 46 vote; 60 votes were needed to advance the legislation in the chamber.

In response to the videos, a wide swath of Republicans have called on Congress through upcoming budget negotiations to cease giving taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood, which by law can not use federal money for abortions.

The GOP movement to defund Planned Parenthood was recently reinvigorated by a series of viral videos allegedly depicting top officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue in a sting operation.

It would stop the flow of more than 0 million from the federal government to Planned Parenthood, but promised this money would still be used in support of women’s health.

Back in 2011, the House didpass a bill to defund Planned Parenthood, and the debate went so far it almost shut down the government.

Both of Indiana’s senators voted Monday to cut off federal funding from Planned Parenthood.

Despite Monday’s failed vote, the debate over the videos and Planned Parenthood funding isn’t going away. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said on the Senate floor.

“I just don’t see how we can ensure that all of the patients now served by Planned Parenthood can be absorbed by alternative healthcare providers”, she had said.

And Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin broke from his party to vote with Republicans in favor of ending funding.

Anti-abortion activists hold a rally opposing federal funding for Planned Parenthood in front of the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2015.

Despite the Senate’s decision, there are still many who are crying foul over Planned Parenthood’s activities, and one of them is Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who is also a presidential aspirant. “If this feels like a full-on assault on women’s health, that’s because it is”.

“While videos continue to be released showing how Planned Parenthood sold aborted baby parts for profit, Rep. Graham remains silent on the issue”.

The committee plans to seek documents from Missouri Planned Parenthood locations and call witnesses to testify in order to complete the investigation. “I am deeply dismayed that the Republican leadership is engaging in an effort, an effort doomed to fail in just a couple of hours, to defund probably the most trusted provider of health care for women in the United States of America”. However, the nonprofit organization fiercely denies conservatives’ allegations that Planned Parenthood profits from selling fetal body parts. In addition to its abortion services, the group is also among the country’s largest source of family planning and health services to women, especially in traditionally underserved communities.

Supporters of Planned Parenthood say the attacks have the potential to backfire, particularly with women voters, who favored Democrats in the 2012 elections by 55 percent after similar attacks on the organization the year prior.