Latest on defunding Planned Parenthood votes/chatter
UPDATE 4/15, 12:27p: Here were the tallies for yesterday’s votes to defund Planned Parenthood and Obamacare, fyi:
House roll call vote on the Black/Roby resolution to defund PP: Passed 241-185-1. 231 Republicans voted FOR the resolution and 7 voted AGAINST the resolution (Bass, Biggert, Bono Mack, Dent, Dold, Frelinghuysen, Hanna). 1 Republican voted present (Amash). 178 Democrats voted AGAINST the resolution and 10 Democrats voted FOR the resolution (Boren, Costello, Critz, Donnelly, Lipinski, McIntyre, Peterson, Rahall, Ross, Shuler). The following Members did not vote: Boehner (the Speaker does not generally vote), Reichert, Andrews, Giffords, Meeks, Olver. Generally Members voted consistent with their vote earlier this year. However, Rep. Reyes switched from a YES to a NO and Rep. Critz switched from a NO to a Yes.
House roll call vote on the Alexander resolution to defund PPACA: Passed 240-185. 237 Republicans voted FOR the resolution and no Republicans voted against the resolution. 185 Democrats voted AGAINST the resolution and 3 Democrats voted FOR the resolution (Boren, McIntyre, Ross).
Senate roll call vote on the Black/Roby resolution to defund PP: Failed 42-58. 42 Republicans voted FOR the resolution and 5 Republicans voted AGAINST the resolution (Brown, Collins, Kirk, Murkowski, Snowe). 53 Democrats voted AGAINST the resolution and no Democrats voted for the resolution.
Senate roll call vote on the Alexander resolution to defund PPACA: Failed 47-53 along party lines.
4/14, 12:19p: For what it’s worth, sources close to the situation told me yesterday they don’t believe Republicans intended to use PP as a bargaining chip, as has been speculated. They agreed it simply boiled down to Republicans not having the stomach to shut down the government over PP.
That said, Republicans did get a major concession from President Obama and Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid re: PP as part of the final Continuing Resolution FY11 budget deal: an agreement for both houses of Congress to hold a separate vote to defund PP as well as a vote to defund Obamacare.
The PP votes are largely symbolic as the ultimate outcome is already known. The PP defunding bill is expected to pass in the House, as it did in February (for the first time ever), and fail in the Senate, since 41 Dems have already committed to voting “no.”
But the reason Republicans and pro-lifers want to get congresspersons on record is to use any votes against defunding PP to their advantage in the 2012 elections.
Furthermore, the stronger the vote tally for our side, the better it will be for us the next time Republicans consider such a measure.
One final interesting point is that Fox News is reporting the vote to approve the CR isn’t necessarily a done deal. Reps. Mike Pence and Jim Jordan are 2 important pro-life leaders who oppose Speaker Boehner’s CR deal leaving PP funding intact. There is outspoken opposition to PP funding on the Senate side as well, for instance, Marco Rubio…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONT3tcs0G1U[/youtube]
So it is still important to call your representative and senators and urge them to vote “yes” to defunding PP – today, because today is when both the House and Senate could vote on this. Hot Air explains:
Thanks to last year’s ObamaCare vote, Democrats in the Senate are already on shaky ground, especially Ben Nelson and possibly Bob Casey as well, and others. The vote will force these red-state and purple-state Democrats to explain why, with a budget deficit of $1.6 trillion, the federal government should fund the abortion leader for any purpose, even if one can argue that the federal funds are somehow hermetically sealed away from the abortion process.
LifeNews.com added Joe Manchin of West Virginia to the list of vulnerable Democrat pro-life senators in 2012.
But Casey has already said he will vote against defunding PP.
Perhaps Democrats for Life gave him cover. President Kristen Day opposed shutting down the government if it came to defunding PP, although her rationale didn’t quite make sense…
(UPDATE on Day comment: Kelsey from SecularProLife points out that if Day’s comment was directed at Democrats, it makes sense. Kelsey’s right.)
[HT for Rubio video: Reader Jameson; HT for Day Facebook comment: The Cardinal Rules]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I believe that Kristen’s comment is directed to members of her party who like Planned Parenthood. It makes more sense that way.
Why does an organization that doesn’t need our money need our money? This is a stupid question anywhere but in Washington D.C.
I have asked several pro-life organizations this question, and I can’t seem to get a straight answer. Does this Senate measure simply transfer money from one group of abortion providers (PP) to other abortion providers, and authorize legal abortion, like Mike Pence’s pro-abortion bill did in the House? Or does it actually decrease abortion funding? What happens to the money that would be taken away from PP?
If it simply goes to other abortionists, then we MUST oppose this bill just like the con-job that Pence tried to pass off. Pence’s bill was promoted by many pro-life groups as supposedly being pro-life, and yet it INCREASED funding to abortion providers and authorized legal abortion “for any reason.”
That is the equivalent of saying “We will defund Auschwitz… by transferring their funding to Dachau and Bergen-Belzen.” Which, of course, is a travesty and NOT something we should support. It is political fakery to give cover to fake pro-life Republicans.
After all, next week they could say “Let’s defund many other abortion providers… We’ll do it by simply transferring their money to just one abortion provider, thus reducing the NUMBER of abortionists receiving taxpayer money. So we’ll take their money and give it to PP.” And that would be a “victory.” Rubbish.
So, what is the case with the Senate measure this week? Which is it? Why can’t anyone seem to give a straight answer on this simple-yet-critical question?
Jamie Schofield, pro-lifers advocate transferring PP’s funds to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which provide comprehensive care. They’re basically neighborhood clinics, serving women, men, and children. So I highly doubt that any of them do abortion, although I haven’t seen that question be specifically addressed.
Can you please provide some evidence that the Pence Amendment increased funding to abortion providers?
Meanwhile, Macroeconomic Advisers, one of the most highly-respected economics firms in the United States, has analyzed Ryan’s budget plan and declares it “both flawed and contrived.”
http://macroadvisers.blogspot.com/2011/04/economic-effects-of-ryan-plan-assuming.html
“Flawed and contrived” is a polite way of saying “If you’re going to lie, learn how to do it convincingly.”
mp: What does that have to do with the topic of this thread?
mp: What does that have to do with the topic of this thread?
The continuing resolution. That should be obvious.
My shocking prediction: Someday we will all be saying President Rubio.
Just you watch.
Castro will burn his beard.
Kelsey… ah, yes, you’re right, Kristen’s comment makes total sense if it’s directed at Dems.
mp: Neither the continuing resolution nor the budget deal incorporate the Ryan plan that has been in the news.
Kelsey, happy to:
http://americanrtl.org/Pence-HR217-abortion-funding-bill
Mike Pence’s bill explicitly funds abortion with taxpayer money and approves of legal abortion for any reason. It should be no surprise, since Pence has a record of praising and defending openly pro-abortion politicians and is unrepentant on that.
So, does is this Senate measure completely different from Pence’s pro-abortion bill? Or is it the same? Is there anyone on the face of the earth who knows?
mp: Neither the continuing resolution nor the budget deal incorporate the Ryan plan that has been in the news.
It is part and parcel of the same strategic vision: deficit reduction.
The Planned Parenthood volunteers are out in full force today. I don’t have a problem with that, they have the right to fundraise and promote their point of view. One approached me and asked me to “save Planned Parenthood.” I just smiled and said politely, ”sorry, I’m prolife.” He looked a little surprised but said “oh.” No screaming or confrontation — kill em’ with kindness, I say.
Sorry, I just don’t buy it. Call me cynical but I think all politicians (save a possible few) are out for themselves. The pro life movement has been reduced to self serving manipulative waggering.
The pro life movement has been reduced to self serving manipulative waggering.
I don’t agree.
MST, are you going by the MST moniker now or your old one (Phillymiss)? Just trying to avoid confusion. Thanks.
@carder: Do you think? That’d be really awesome. (The President Rubio bit, too. ;) )
John Boehner’s deal with the devil last Friday ruined our chances of PP defunding. If only the Republicans could learn to fight like the Democrats we could get something done.
“But the reason Republicans and pro-lifers want to get congresspersons on record is to use any votes against defunding PP to their advantage in the 2012 elections.” – you think that will be an advantage? You don’t seem to realise how much people will see attempts to defund PP as both cynical and wrong while tax cuts for the rich are being promoted.
The lesson here to be learned is that there are too many Democrats in the Senate. Learn the lesson and we might win next time. Whine about how Boehner is weak, so you’re staying home on Election Day or voting for the Dems and PP will never be defunded.
The Dems and Obama are the enemy. They’re the ones who refused to budge on using our money to fund PP. They are the reason why Roe v. Wade isn’t overturned yet. Concentrate on defeating them, not complaining about the pro-life Republicans who actually tried but failed due to lack of numbers.
It’s time to stop playing these stupid games and just come right out and admit it – the Democratic Party is the Party of Abortion. That doesn’t mean that all of the Republicans are pro-life, nor does it mean that to be pro-life you have to vote Republican. But it is impossible to be pro-life and vote Democrat.
The Dems and Obama are the enemy. They’re the ones who refused to budge on using our money to fund PP.
The United States Government has been funding Planned Parenthood through Title X since 1970–almost a half-century–through a succession of “Dem” and “Rep” administrations.
Say you rid yourself of “the Dems and Obama.” Then what? Who will the “enemy” be then?
Not now, then.
So…. I guess nobody here knows the answer to my question, either?
And even more disappointing, nobody (but one person) seems to even care… to even care if this money will simply be sent to fund other abortion providers instead… to care if this Senate measure authorizes legal abortion like Mike Pence’s bill did in the House?
Isn’t that relevant?
“Say you rid yourself of “the Dems and Obama.” Then what? Who will the “enemy” be then?”
I would say that 80%+ of Republicans are pro-life. Most of the pro-abort Republicans are from New England where they drink so much booze that their brains don’t function properly. If the Republicans have a large enough majority, PP will be defunded. If the Democrats control even 40% of Congress, PP will not be defunded. The only way we’re going to make any progress at all on the right to life is if Congress is 1/3 Democrats and 2/3 Republicans. Unfortunately, there are too many pro-life voters who refuse to acknowledge this simple and obvious duality, and they just keep on switching between voting for Dem and GOP.
It makes little sense to say that Republicans are the enemy when only 20% of GOP politicians are pro-abortion, while 99% of Democrat politicians are pro-abortion, and Obama is the most pro-abortion president ever.
Jamie, the Pence law had exceptions for rape and the life of the mother, just like hundreds of anti-abortion laws that existed prior to Roe v. Wade. Considering that this is nothing new, that’s probably why the vast majority of pro-life organizations don’t care.
Linking pro-life with the Republican party seems logical because of statistics but in fact it is not logical. Many Republican’s are pro-life, but pro-lifers aren’t pro-life because they’re Republican.
Ninek, you’re right that pro-life doesn’t go hand in hand with the GOP. And it goes without saying that pro-lifers aren’t pro-life because they’re Republican. But it cannot be denied that when it comes to the politicians running for national office, about 80% of the Republicans are pro-life and about 99% of the Democrats are pro-abortion. We have had Republican majorities and we have had Democrat majorities in Congress, but we haven’t had a pro-life majority. For that to happen, as I said, we would need to have about 1/3 Dems and 2/3 GOP. That would offset the 20% or so of Republicans who are pro-abortion. It’s really the only way.
As I have said many, many times, in order to vote pro-life, you cannot vote Democrat. You don’t have to vote Republican, but you cannot vote Democrat. The most “pro-life” Democrat in the US Senate, Bobby Casey, is a complete fraud. And even if you do get a genuine “pro-life Democrat” elected to Congress, they’re still going to support the Democratic Party’s pro-abortion leadership.
One ‘space and time’ reason for b o and his fellow cult members to fight so hard to preserve federal funding for PP may be their ‘plan’ to use the PP infrastructure to implement the b o’s ‘hellth scare’ scam.
The ‘dead babies r us’ folks have about 40 years experience providing ’beginning of life death counseling’. It should not be difficult for them to make the transition to ‘end of productive life death counseling’.
They got plans for this golden cash cow.
Why re-invent the whore house, when the one they have now is working just fine?
I bet none of today’s sidewalk counselors ever imagined that one day they would be trying to persuade the children not to kill their parents.