Most of the focus over the last few days concerning Planned Parenthood has been on whether it would received federal funding, but new figures on its election and lobbying expenses show it spending heavily.
Figures from the Center for Responsive Politics are getting new attention and they show Planned Parenthood spending more than $1 million on pro-abortion candidates last year — all Democrats.
“The organization’s political action committee, for example, donated more than $148,000 to federal candidates — almost all Democrats — during the 2010 election cycle. The PAC spent more than $443,000 overall,” the Center noted. “Planned Parenthood also recorded $905,796 in independent expenditures during the 2010 cycle — money spent in support of, or in opposition to, federal political candidates, largely through advertisements. The top beneficiaries of this money were Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).”
Meanwhile, the Center indicates Planned Parenthood maintains a well-funded lobbying effort in the nation’s capital and “Planned Parenthood, more so than any other abortion rights organization,” has the money to fight for its abortion business interests, with the Center adding “the organization’s overall political efforts typically exceed those of any single group that opposes abortion rights.”
“In 2010, Planned Parenthood and a California affiliate together spent more than $700,000 on federal lobbying efforts,” the Center found. “By comparison, all other organizations that primarily advocate for abortion rights collectively spent $247,280 on federal lobbying efforts during the same period, according to the Center’s research.”
Jim Hoft, a writer at the conservative Human Events magazine and Gateway Pundit blog, said the expenditures help explain the partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans on funding the abortion business.
“Republicans voted to strip the abortion group from receiving $363 million in taxpayer funds but Senate Democrats put it back in the budget. After all, it’s money for their reelection,” he noted.
Jill Stanek, a pro-life nurse and blogger, also commented on the massive amounts Planned Parenthood spends on campaigns and lobbying.
“Another outcome of the Planned Parenthood budget fight is Obama is now officially married to Planned Parenthood, for better or worse,” she said. “As Americans are increasingly educated about Planned Parenthoods’ dastardly history, emphasis on abortion, $1 billion annual income, defrauding the government, and willingness to cover up child rape and sex trafficking, Planned Parenthood is now Obama’s to defend. The reasons why Obama and Democrats so protect Planned Parenthood are obvious, money and votes.”
“With Obama losing ACORN and union influence, he can’t afford to anger Planned Parenthood, likely his strongest political interest group. Don’t forget Planned Parenthood sided with Obama against feminist groups that were supporting Hillary back in the 2008 primary. Friday night showed exactly why,” she said.
