Friday, February 18, 2011

Elections Have Consequences: House Defunds Planned Parenthood

From Politico: The House just approved Rep. Mike Pence’s amendment to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, checking off a hot-button social issue even as it set up a bigger showdown over defunding the health care law.
The vote was 240-185 with 11
Democrats voting for the amendment, and seven Republicans voting against. One member voted present. A group of Republicans on the floor applauded when the vote hit 218.
That amendment managed to suck up three hours of often emotional debate time Thursday night, which is a big part of the reason the health care law defunding votes got pushed into today.
Pence, of Indiana, touched off a vicious back-and-forth Thursday night in which Republicans insisted the organization is too aggressive about performing abortions and several Democrats charged that the GOP was waging a “war on women.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49830.html#ixzz1EMqijJSg

First, a war on women? You mean Planned Parenthood is the only provider of women services in the country? Umm no.
I applaud this for action for two reasons. Planned Parenthood is the biggest provider of abortion provider in the Country, or least one of the top ones. They have a conflict of providing abortions and providing abortion advice. The two are incompatible. And if there are fewer abortions there, great and maybe some women will choose not to have an abortion because they will get better counsel.
Second, why should the government fund a private organization? It's not like Planned Parenthood is the only provider of abortions, health services, guidance or any other services Planned Parenthood provides. There are many agencies, doctors, social workers and other non-profit agencies that provide the same services and they don't get government funding.
So, elections have consequences and it is good news that Planned Parenthood doesn't receive federal money.

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