![]() ![]() Many Republicans are irked by the fact that the organization has a lobbying arm that pushes state and federal lawmakers to support abortion rights. 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. About 75% of the money the group receives is reimbursement for serving low-income patients enrolled in Medicaid, Planned Parenthood officials said. 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. Planned Parenthood is already barred by federal law from using any of the $528 million in federal funds it receives each year for abortions. "They raise real fundamental questions about what kind of society we want to be." "The revelations we've seen from Planned Parenthood are deeply disturbing," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Monday. Planned Parenthood leaders said opponents of abortion rights are trying to smear the organization. The group has said it does not profit from the sale of fetal tissue and has done nothing improper nor illegal. Those videos show Planned Parenthood officials discussing procedures for obtaining and selling organs from aborted fetuses for medical research. 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. Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the abortion giants advocacy arm, has spent a massive amount of money on lobbying efforts since the U.S. 30 to keep the government funded for fiscal 2016, which begins Oct. The standoff has the potential to result in a government shutdown, although congressional leaders have said they hope to avoid that outcome. ![]() any attempt to deprive American women of health care." Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats "will fight vigorously. "This is the beginning of the fight to restore America's conscience," said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, who opposes abortion rights. The White House has vowed to veto any legislation that would end funding for the organization. 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. For Democrats, defending abortion rights and access to contraception are key issues for their base. For Republicans, taking on Planned Parenthood could appeal to conservative voters in next year's GOP primaries. 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. Supporters needed 60 votes to advance the legislation. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, that would stop the non-profit group from receiving any federal money from Congress. Senators voted 53-46 for a bill from Sen. 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. ![]()
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