Federal funds to Planned Parenthood gotten rid of!

[gorillafuck]

Edit: please change the title, the title is incorrect.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_825258.html

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans voted on Friday to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood, cutting money for contraceptives, HIV tests, cancer screenings and reproductive health services as part of an attempt to weaken the abortion provider. Planned Parenthood does not currently spend federal money on abortion services.

The vote, which passed, 240 to 185, came after an emotional, late-night speech by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), who revealed on the House floor that she had had an abortion. Speier criticized Republicans for vilifying Planned Parenthood and abortion-rights supporters.

"There is a vendetta against Planned Parenthood, and it was played out in this room tonight," she said on the House floor. "Planned Parenthood has a right to operate. Planned Parenthood has a right to provide family planning services. Planned parenthood has a right to perform abortions. Last time you checked, abortions were legal in this country."

Republicans argued that the amendment, which was introduced by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), was necessary to prevent taxpayer money from funding abortions at Planned Parenthood. But the organization is already prohibited from using the money it receives under Title X, which funds reproductive health services, to perform abortions.

Planned Parenthood was a major recipient of Title X funding last year, when the organization estimated it received a quarter of the $317 million appropriated for Title X. The the organization also performs one-quarter of reported abortions in the United States last year, some of which Pence claims were funded through non-Title X funding.

"Nobody is saying Planned Parenthood can't be the leading advocate of abortion on demand, but why do I have to pay for it?" Pence said on Thursday, adding that he hopes Roe v. Wade is eventually overturned.

Democrats, particularly female members of Congress, came out hard against the Pence amendment, calling it an attack based on politics. It is not the first by the House GOP this year: Republicans have also proposed bills that would allow hospitals to turn away women in need of emergency abortions or would limit funding for abortions to rape victims who can prove their rape is "forcible." (The latter language was dropped amid outrage from women's rights advocates).

Also, look at the proposed bills in the last paragraph. Not only is it for more restrictions, it even makes what it "allows" so vague that it's basically a restriction in itself. Prove their rape is forcible.

[Princess Luna]

Didn't Obama say he would veto any attempt by republicans to cut funding to PP?

[Sasha]

Yup, the title is misleading, this proposal doesn't stand much chance to pass the senate, if it does there is still the promised Obama veto and the courts, all lawyers say there is no way pp would loose an federal case.

[gorillafuck]

Oh, my mistake. Still, in a few years when republicans make even more gains in senate (which I think they will), they could propose something like this and have very serious potential to pass it.

I thought it passed both the senate and house though, not just the house. Change the title.

[GPDP]

It's but the start of a new all-out offensive on reproductive rights by the far-right. Even if it doesn't pass (and it won't, not yet), it's a symbolic measure that is sure to be used for agitation purposes among reactionary anti-choice voters in order to mobilize them come election day. You can be sure if further gains are made by the GOP on the next elections, they're going to try this again.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Even though it isn't going to pass, it sets a dangerous precedent that bills like this are going to be pushed at all.