The House of Representatives voted 241-187, on party lines, on Friday to
block Planned Parenthood's funding for one year, and to add redundant criminal penalties on abortion doctors under the "born-alive" law. Democrats called "bullshit" on both bills, which they are, but of course didn't prevail.
"The Republicans just want to shut the government down if we don't fund Planned Parenthood. That's what they're all about," said Rep. Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. […]
"No wrongdoing was shown. There's no criminal charges, there's no charges at all, pending against Planned Parenthood," Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Col.) said.
Minutes later, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Calif.[sic—IL]), accused a Republican colleague of making "a complete falsehood" on the floor.
"Planned Parenthood does not sell any body parts for profit. That is a fact," she said. […]
Democrats said the proposed changes to the born-alive protection bill are overly broad, and intended to intimidate abortion providers out of practice.
"It is already illegal to fail to provide care to an infant born alive," Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif) said. "What this bill does is to vilify abortion providers."
Truth, unfortunately, has little currency among Republicans. Neither does the
report from the Congressional Budget Office that this defunding will take away healthcare from hundreds of thousands of women. That's a feature, not a bug, in their war on women.
This vote will probably have little currency with the Republican hard-liners, as well. They are determined to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood, and aren't going to be swayed by what they call "show votes," like this one.
Sign if you agree: Democrats must stand strong. No cuts to Planned Parenthood. No government shutdowns