Dems block plan to defund Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats  blocked an attempt Monday by Republican leaders to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood, but the debate is likely to reignite this fall and could lead to a possible government shutdown.

Senators voted 53-46 for a bill from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, that would stop the non-profit group from receiving any federal money from Congress. Supporters needed 60 votes to advance the legislation.

Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virgina and Joe Donnelly of Indiana voted with Republicans to move the bill forward. Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois joined Democrats in blocking the bill. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., switched his vote from yes to no — a procedural move that allows him to bring up the legislation again in the future. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., did not vote.

The vote was largely symbolic since it was clear that Republicans — who have a 54-vote majority — did not have the super majority needed to move forward. For Republicans, taking on Planned Parenthood could appeal to conservative voters in next year's GOP primaries. For Democrats, defending abortion rights and access to contraception are key issues for their base.

The issue is likely to re-emerge in the fall as conservatives in the House and Senate vow to block passage of 2016 spending bills unless federal funding for Planned Parenthood is halted. The White House has said it will veto any legislation that would end funding for the organization.

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"This is the beginning of the fight to restore America's conscience," said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, who opposes abortion rights.

Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats "will fight vigorously ... any attempt to deprive American women of health care."

The standoff has the potential to result in a government shutdown, although congressional leaders have said they hope to avoid that outcome. Congress must pass legislation by Sept. 30 to keep the government funded for fiscal 2016, which begins Oct. 1.

The latest effort to take away the organization's federal funding came in the wake of the release of controversial videos by anti-abortion activists. Those videos show Planned Parenthood officials discussing procedures for obtaining and selling organs from aborted fetuses for medical research. The group has said  it does not profit from the sale of fetal tissue and has done nothing improper nor illegal. Planned Parenthood leaders said opponents of abortion rights are trying to smear the organization.

“The revelations we’ve seen from Planned Parenthood are deeply disturbing," McConnell said Monday. “They raise real fundamental questions about what kind of society we want to be."

Planned Parenthood is already barred by federal law from using any of the $528 million in federal funds it receives each year for abortions. Instead, the group uses the money to provide women with birth control, cancer screenings, annual checkups, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and other services. About 75% of the money the group receives is reimbursement for serving low-income patients enrolled in Medicaid, Planned Parenthood officials said.

Opponents of abortion rights have long sought to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding because they say no taxpayer money should go to a group that performs abortions. Many Republicans are irked by the fact that the organization has a lobbying arm that pushes state and federal lawmakers to support abortion rights.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said cutting off funds from Planned Parenthood would deny essential health services to hundreds of thousands of American women. The group serves about 2.7 million women, men and teens each year.

Republican arguments that community health centers can take over the care of those patients ignore the fact that more than half of Planned Parenthood's clinics are in rural areas or medically underserved communities where women have few alternatives for care, Democrats said.

"Taking away this funding is political, shortsighted and downright dangerous," Tester said.

Planned Parenthood leaders said they don't expect the fight to end with Monday's vote.

"This fight may not be over, but we’re ready for it, just like we were in 2011, and in 2009, and in 2007," said Cecile Richards, the group's president, referring to past funding battles. "It’s time the far right came to terms with political reality: attacks on women’s health are deeply unpopular, and put millions of lives at risk."

The Family Research Council, which opposes abortion rights, thanked the majority of senators for voting to end taxpayer funding "to a scandal-plagued organization."

"When Congress returns in September, they must take the next step in redirecting taxpayer money from Planned Parenthood to the thousands of health care centers that don't perform abortions," said Tony Perkins, the group's president.

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