GOP senators may surrender on defunding Planned Parenthood to pass health care bill

Several Republican senators hinted that they may surrender to Democrats on defunding Planned Parenthood if they can pass a bill repealing and replacing Obamacare, a Fox News reporter said. In a tweet, journalist Chad Pergram said some conservative senators are willing to “give” on the issue of abortion if they can pass the health care bill.

The U.S. House recently passed the American Health Care Act, which would effectively defund Planned Parenthood for one year and eliminate 80 percent of its federal funding. The measure was approved on a 217-213 vote, with 20 Republicans voting against it.

Senate Republicans, who are pressured to pass the bill before the Fourth of July recess, need 51 votes to pass any health care legislation. If the Senate version ends up in a 50-50 tie, it will necessitate a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Mike Pence. Democrats are openly in opposition to efforts to repeal Obamacare, and it will be an uphill fight to unite conservative and moderate Republican members.

The vote comes on the heels of Planned Parenthood’s recently released annual report, which shows that with increased taxpayer funding, the corporation’s health services have sharply declined, while abortions have increased. Since 2004, services at Planned Parenthood have dropped significantly; however, abortions have increased 28 percent, while taxpayer funding increased 103 percent.

• Breast exams are down 65 percent

• Cancer screenings down 69 percent

• Pap tests down 75 percent

• Abortions are up 28 percent

• Taxpayer funding is up 103 percent

Abortions increasing, services decreasing at Planned Parenthood

For nearly a decade, Republicans have vowed to defund Planned Parenthood. Although Congress successfully passed a measure eliminating subsidies for the abortion giant under President Obama, lawmakers must do it again. The Trump administration and members of Congress campaigned on the promise to get the job done, and yet to this day, Planned Parenthood remains fully funded to the tune of $1.5 million a day.