New Attacks on Planned Parenthood by GOP Senate and VP Pence

Elephants May Have Good Memories, but Lousy Vision

(Narrow-mined and Short-sighed)

A new GOP stunt (from The Hill) in the Senate (March 30, 2017):

Republicans used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to roll back some Obama-era regulations with only a simple majority vote. (A simple fact: Anything with Mr. Obama's name on it is fair game for the GOP's obvious hatred).

Example: One Obama rule required that state and local governments distribute federal Title X funding for services related to: (1) contraception, (2) fertility, (3) pregnancy care, and (4) cervical cancer screenings to health providers, regardless of whether they also perform abortions.

(I Note: The GOP as we know hates any kind of abortion, which need I remind anyone may in some cases be a needed and valid medical procedure. 

So, what does the GOP do? They wheel out VP Mike Pence to break a 50-50 procedural vote that Democrats blast them for doing since they used him to break a procedural vote tie and NOT a tie on an actual vote to pass a bill (which could I think be a violation of Senate rules).

More from Politico: Pence and a GOP senator recovering from back surgery were dramatically summoned to the Senate Thursday to advance legislation that would allow states to block federal family-planning funds to Planned Parenthood (since they do perform abortions).

Specifically: After the vote had been held open for more than an hour, Pence cast the tie-breaker shortly after Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) walked onto the Senate floor to vote using a walker since he was still recovering from back surgery.

Background: Federal funding (Title X) for abortion is already barred by the long-standing Hyde Amendment.

(Hyde Amendment: Under that amendment, the U.S. has penalized low-income women seeking abortion — forcing those already struggling to make ends meet to pay the biggest proportion of her income for safe, legal care and that procedure.

History: Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has blocked federal Medicaid funding for abortion services, and since 1994, there have been three extremely narrow exceptions: (1) When continuing the pregnancy will endanger the woman’s life, and (2) when the pregnancy results from rape, or (3) from incest.

That means that Medicaid cannot cover abortion even when a woman’s health is at risk and even when her doctor recommends she get an abortion.

Republicans falsely argue that this new measure upholds states' rights and is not an attack on Planned Parenthood re: this view: “This is an opportunity to return to the people the right to prioritize how taxpayer dollars are spent. Sens. Collins and Murkowski are missing out on the opportunity to stand up for comprehensive women’s health care,” said Mallory Quigley, a spokeswoman for the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List.

This action marks the first legislation the Senate will vote on targeting Planned Parenthood funding with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House.

My View: This once again shows and reinforces just how much the GOP hates Planned Parenthood. So, what's next for their chopping block? Might be something that is important and critical for you and your  family like good decent affordable health care, or safe and clean air, water, and food?