GOP Moves to Strip Planned Parenthood of Federal Funding

The right wing attack on women heats up.

By Shani O. Hilton Feb 18, 2011

Legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, introduced by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana), passed the House today with a vote of 240-185. In addition to stripping Planned Parenthood of federal funding, the amendment would also deny Title X funds to any reproductive health care organization or facility that also provides abortion–even though those funds cannot go toward abortion.

It’s unlikely that the amendment will pass the Senate. Dave Weigel points to a similar amendment that failed to make it into the Affordable Care Act because there weren’t enough senators on board.

Currently, no federal funds go toward Planned Parenthood’s abortion operation, which makes up about three percent of all of the services it provides. According to Planned Parenthood’s annual report, about 86 percent of the organization’s work is providing contraception, STD testing and treatment, and cancer screenings.

This is the second time Pence has introduced this bill. In 2009, it failed the House 247-183.

This certainly isn’t the first time Planned Parenthood has been singled out. Anti-abortion activists recently planned an ACORN-style sting that drew national attention. Miriam Perez recently outlined the House GOP’s recent strategy to attack abortion rights.