Pro-Abortion Senators Vow to Keep Funding Planned Parenthood

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 4, 2011   |   1:41PM   |   Washington, DC

A group of 41 pro-abortion members of the Senate have vowed they will do everything they can to keep taxpayer money flowing from the federal government to the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

Led by pro-abortion stalwart Barbara Boxer, who is deceiving voters into thinking Planned Parenthood does mammograms and that should justify giving it federal funds, the group of 41 outlined their support for taxpayer funding in a new letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the top Democrat, and GOP leader Mitch McConnell, who is pro-life.

The group includes thirty-nine Democratic senators and two Independents, pro-abortion Sens. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The number of lawmakers on board — and Reid would likely vote with them — is enough to filibuster any legislation containing the Pence Amendment that de-funds Planned Parenthood. House Republicans have already sent the Senate one bill de-funding the abortion business and Democrats mounted enough support to defeat the measure.

The letter, according to a report in The Hill, asked Reid and McConnell to “stand with us against extreme proposals by some members of the House to eliminate support for women’s health and family planning programs and providers that service millions of women and families.”

The abortion advocates said they would “oppose the provision in the House-passed continuing resolution that cuts Planned Parenthood health centers off from federal funds used to provide cancer screenings, birth control and other preventative health care services to three million Americans every year.”

“Without access to these services, many of these women will be unable to get preventive screenings, be at far greater risk for diseases such as cancer and will face more unintended pregnancies,” they claimed.

The letter did not carry the signatures of any Republicans but pro-abortion Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine have already pledged to vote for Planned Parenthood funding. Scott Brown of Massachusetts issued a confusing statement making it appear he would vote for funding but saying only that he supports family planning funds.

After concerns earlier this year that Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards made false claims in defending its taxpayer funding that it provides mammorams for women, Live Action released videotaped footage of calls to 30 Planned Parenthood centers nationwide in 27 different states where abortion facility staff were asked whether or not mammograms could be performed on site. 

Every one of the Planned Parenthood centers admitted they could not do mammograms. Every Planned Parenthood, without exception, tells the women calling that they will have to go elsewhere for a mammogram, and many clinics admit that no Planned Parenthood clinics provide this breast cancer screening procedure.

“We don’t provide those services whatsoever,” admits a staffer at Planned Parenthood of Arizona while a staffer at Planned Parenthood’s Comprehensive Health Center clinic in Overland Park, Kansas tells a caller, “We actually don’t have a, um, mammogram machine, at our clinics.”

The House approved a long-term bill weeks ago with the Pence Amendment to yank funding for the abortion business, but Senate Democrats rejected it. As negotiations move forward on a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for most of the rest of the year, Planned Parenthood officials are concerned the House and Senate will agree to a measure that revokes its funding.

If that happens, Obama could issue a veto that would force lawmakers back to the drawing board with a bill that could restore Planned Parenthood’s place at the funding trough.

Obama has already said he would veto the House-approved long-term spending bill because it funds Planned Parenthood, saying House Republicans’ cuts are unacceptable.”

“Let’s not try to sneak political agendas into a budget debate,” Obama said. “If Republicans are interested in social issues that they want to promote, they should put a bill on the floor of the House and promote it, have an up-or-down vote, send it over to the Senate. But don’t try to use the budget as a way to promote a political or ideological agenda.”

Not content to take any risks with its federal funding, Planned Parenthood has cozied up to Obama — starting with Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards snagging time with First Lady Michelle Obama at an event for women earlier this month.

Last week, Politico reported, “Members of the Obama administration have also had low-profile meetings with abortion rights advocates. And groups like Planned Parenthood that have been targeted by conservatives largely feel reassured by the positive signals the White House has thus far shown on protecting their funding.”

Correction: Sen. Thad Cochran did not sign the letter on Planned Parenthood. Incorrect information appeared in a story in The Hill, which LifeNews cited in this article. The Hill has corrected the error.