Wendy Davis: Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski “Inspired” Me by Voting to Fund Planned Parenthood

National   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Aug 8, 2017   |   10:00AM   |   Washington, DC

Former Texas state senator and abortion activist Wendy Davis just won’t go away.

This week, the former politician — known for wearing pink tennis shoes while filibustering a Texas bill to protect unborn babies and moms from late-term abortion — wrote an op-ed for The Hill praising two pro-abortion Republican Senators who voted against a bill to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal parts of Obamacare.

After a failed run for Texas governor, Davis has become heavily involved in abortion advocacy by speaking, writing, doing interviews and lobbying for pro-abortion issues. She works closely with the largest abortion business in America, Planned Parenthood.

In her latest piece, Davis described Republican U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine as heroines for stopping a bill to defund the abortion chain Planned Parenthood. The bill, which failed to pass in July because of Murkowski, Collins and Sen. John McCain, also would have repealed parts of Obamacare.

Davis said the two women are “some of the most courageous politicians” she has ever known.

Though Davis did not mention abortion or Planned Parenthood in her column, she hinted at it through her mentions of the bill and Emily’s List, a group that supports pro-abortion women candidates.

SIGN THE PETITION! Congress Must De-Fund Planned Parenthood Immediately

She wrote:

As we think about what we need to get the country working again, I would urge you all to consider getting behind the election of women, more of whom are running than ever before. Emily’s List reports a staggering figure of more than 16,000 women reaching out to them expressing a desire to run for office, pummeling the previous record of just under 1,000. …

[Collins and Murkowski] caught and held my attention and admiration throughout the healthcare debate, joining brave Democratic senators who represent red states, each of them maintaining a steadfast commitment to what they thought was best for their constituents rather than their own personal and political well-being.

Murkowski has been forthright about her support of the abortion chain. In June, the Alaska senator told her constituents that she is “committed” to forcing taxpayers to fund the abortion chain.

“I am committed to ensuring that important provisions of the ACA, such as covering those with pre-existing conditions, continued support for Medicaid expansion, coverage for dependents and no lifetime limits, and funding for Planned Parenthood remain intact,” Murkowski wrote in a letter to her constituents.

Both she and Collins also have supported the abortion business publicly and in the legislature in the past.

Planned Parenthood continued to maintain its status as the largest abortion provider in the United States. Its most recent annual report shows its taxpayer funding and abortion numbers are up, while its patient numbers, contraception and other health care services are down.

In 2015, it performed 328,348 abortions on unborn babies, nearly 5,000 more than the previous year.

At the same time, it saw 2.4 million patients, about 100,000 fewer than the previous year and about 500,000 fewer than five years ago. Contraception services, which the abortion chain touts as its primary service, also dropped from 2.94 million to 2.8 million during the past two years.

Meanwhile, the abortion chain received more taxpayer funding. The report shows Planned Parenthood receiving $554.6 million, up from $553.7 million the previous year. This increase occurred while pro-abortion President Barack Obama was in power.

This pattern is consistent with its annual reports from the past several years.

A recent congressional investigation into the abortion business involving its sales of aborted baby parts concluded with lawmakers recommended that Congress defund it. Planned Parenthood also has been caught in numerous scandals involving Medicaid fraud and failures to report suspected sex trafficking and sexual abuse of minors.

Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood leaders refused an offer to receive an increase in taxpayer funding if they stopped doing abortions. CEO Cecile Richards called the offer “obscene and insulting,” making it very clear that abortions – not women’s health care – are what really are important to Planned Parenthood.

Recent polls also indicate Americans support the defunding efforts. New polling found 56 percent of Americans in battleground states want Planned Parenthood defunded.

President Donald Trump promised to sign a bill that would defund the Planned Parenthood abortion business.