Senate Passes Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood

The bill goes back to the House of Representatives and, if approved, will be sent to the White House where President Barack Obama is expected to veto the bill.

Susan Collins of ME and Mark Kirk of IL, cited a provision of the bill that strips federal funding from Planned Parenthood for their opposition.

No surprises from Wisconsin’s delegation, as the U-S Senate votes to repeal key parts of Obamacare and drop federal funds for Planned Parenthood.

As it stands, they lack the two-thirds House and Senate majorities needed to override a presidential veto.

Republicans blame the Affordable Care Act for surging health care costs and insurers abandoning some markets.

This week, government officials said that health care spending grew 5.3% in 2014, the steepest climb since Mr Obama took office.

“The entire country will know where every member of the Senate stands on tightening background checks, on keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists, and on strengthening and improving mental health in this country”, said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. “And it’s not what our families and communities want”. One attempt was made by Senate Democrats and the other made by a group of moderate Senate Republicans.

Because the bill was passed using the reconciliation process, it could not be filibustered by Democrats and required just a simple majority to pass.

Early opposition also came from Republican presidential hopefuls Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, who threatened to oppose the measure if it wasn’t strong enough. But it was a vote that provides Republicans the opportunity to show their base they have accomplished all that can feasibly be done under a Democratic president, who is responsible for such a reviled law since its passage in March, 2010. It takes away the penalties on individuals who do not buy insurance and on employers who do not offer health insurance. Specifically, the legislation would revoke the federal government’s authority to run healthcare exchanges as well as ending the subsidies given to help people afford coverage.

The Senate version of H.R. 3762 also would repeal the health law’s medical device tax and the so-called “Cadillac tax” on high-cost insurance plans. 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. The group has said the videos were deceptively doctored and that it’s done nothing illegal.

Senators voted 90-10 to pass an amendment by Sen. The GOP lawmakers believe that once the bill becomes law, it might open doors for the introduction of a new Republican health care law.

Republicans argued the voters were on their side.