Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski avoided a reporter’s question last week about whether she supports the new bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.
The new American Health Care Act is causing tension among some Republicans. In addition to the health care changes, the bill also would prohibit states from using “direct spending” on “prohibited entities” with federal funds allocated from the legislation; and those entities include any entity that “provides for abortions.” That means the nation’s biggest abortion corporation — Planned Parenthood.
Murkowski, a Republican, is believed to be opposed to the legislation. She has spoken out in support of the abortion chain Planned Parenthood in the past, and has a pro-abortion voting record.
Western Journalism reports a journalist approached Murkowski late last week as she was walking down a hallway with a group of aids.
When asked about the American Health Care Act, Murkowski responded, “Would you give me a minute to get to my constituents, please?” In a video capturing the moment, the U.S. Senator sounded very annoyed and almost hostile.
Here’s more from the report:
“Just say yes or no — do you support the house health care bill?” the reporter persisted.
Murkowski then turned on her heel and stalked up to the reporter.
“Would you please be respectful. I’ve just been sitting in a tent for two hours. Come on,” she said as she turned away and strode off without answering the question.
Before the American Health Care Act was introduced, Murkowski said she would not support a bill to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood.
“I, for one, do not believe that Planned Parenthood has any place in our deliberations on the Affordable Care Act,” Murkowski told her state legislature in February. “Taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for abortions, but I will not vote to deny Alaskans access to the health services that Planned Parenthood provides.”
Murkowski has defended the abortion giant Planned Parenthood numerous times. In 2011, she stood up for the abortion group’s taxpayer funding even after undercover videos showed staff at Planned Parenthood assisting alleged sex traffickers in getting abortions and STD testing for the girls they victimize.
Then in 2015, Murkowski joined two other Senators to try to strip a Planned Parenthood defunding provision from a similar Senate bill, according to The Hill.
Last year, Alaska Right to Life said of her voting record:
Murkowski is well known as being a pro-choice Republican, earning a 80% approval rating in 2014 from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Murkowski defends her support of Planned Parenthood, the organization that just last year was exposed in undercover videos showing their illegal sale of baby parts, by saying ” I believe Planned Parenthood provides vital services to those in need and disagree with their funding cuts…”
“Senator Murkowski should remember that there are other organizations out there whose sole mission is to assist women in need, especially those in unplanned pregnancies. These organizations don’t receive federal funding and they offer their services at no cost to their clients. Planned Parenthood is an abortion marketing machine and certainly doesn’t have the best interest of women at heart,” said Christopher Kurka, Alaska Right to Life’s Executive Director.
