The federal debt crisis tops American's concerns, and tax-payer funding of the nation's largest abortion provider leads the list of salient fiscal issues. Polls showing that Americans of the most-likely voting demographics favor defunding Planned Parenthood, increases the possibility of a deadlock in D.C. resulting in a government shutdown.
UPDATE 4/9/11: Abortion Funding Nixed in D.C., Still Funding Planned Parenthood
UPDATE 3/29/11: Shut down government, not Planned Parenthood, says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
For background, read Congress Faces Greatest Genocide in History, and also read Left Fears a Take-down of Planned Parenthood
-- From "West town hall draws applause for opposition to stop-gap budgeting" by George Bennett, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer 3/23/11
U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation, renewed his call to slash federal spending tonight at a town hall meeting where some criticized his votes to reduce environmental regulation, end federal funding for Planned Parenthood and make other spending cuts.
"I will not vote for another continuing resolution," West said, drawing applause.
While the crowd was mostly supportive, some speakers challenged West's vote to cut off about $330 million in federal money for health services provided by Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is already barred from using federal money to provide abortions, but critics say giving the organization money for other services effectively subsidizes abortions.
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From "Alaska Sen. Murkowski says Planned Parenthood funding fight isn't over" by Lisa Demer, The Anchorage Daily News 3/28/11
Conservatives in Congress say they want to wipe out all federal spending for Planned Parenthood because it is a leading abortion provider. Supporters of the organization in Alaska say that will hurt women who go to its clinics for other care including cancer screenings, birth control services, and testing for sexually transmitted disease.
U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, a six-term Republican from Indiana, pushed through an amendment last month to strip away all federal funding for Planned Parenthood . . . The measure passed the full House, but not the Senate. Congress then approved a stop-gap measure to keep the government from shutting down. Congress now is working on a new spending plan to carry the country through the rest of the budget year. The conflict over Planned Parenthood funding promises to be part of the battle.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has gotten attention around the country for being one of few Republicans to speak out in support of Planned Parenthood.
Murkowski did vote in support of H.R.1, the budget measure that wiped out the funding. She said she wanted to show support for reducing the federal budget deficit.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Sen. Barbara Boxer lambastes GOP effort to defund Planned Parenthood as 'vendetta' on women's health" by Carla Marinucci, San Francisco Chronicle 3/24/11
California U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer is lambasting what she calls a Republican "vendetta" against Planned Parenthood, saying that efforts in the House Republicans' proposed budget to entirely defund the organization will impact millions.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Lautenberg: Pro-Life People 'Don’t Deserve Freedoms in Constitution'" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com 3/25/11
New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg is coming under fire from pro-life advocates for comments he made at a recent rally Planned Parenthood staged to save taxpayer funding for its abortion business.
“Planned Parenthood is under attack by Tea Party Republicans who have put their extremist ideology above women’s health,” Lautenberg said while pro-life advocates who counterprotested shouted, “Shame on you, Lautenberg.”
The pro-abortion New Jersey senator fired back: “These people (referring to the pro-life advocates) don’t deserve the freedoms in the Constitution.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "The Hill Poll: Planned Parenthood cut splits voters by gender, race" by Peter Schroeder, The Hill 3/28/11
Overall, 46 percent of those surveyed said Planned Parenthood’s funding should be left alone, while 42 percent say it should be cut. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.
Only 26 percent of single people supported cutting Planned Parenthood funds compared to 51 percent of married people. Fifty-five percent of voters over the age of 65 back the cuts, while just 31 percent of voters aged 18 to 39 agree. And just 9 percent of black voters agree, compared to 45 percent of white voters.
The Hill poll showed broad support for cutting spending. Ninety-one percent of those surveyed think it is very or somewhat important to cut government spending, but voters are much more divided about some of the specific cuts proposed by House Republicans.
On Planned Parenthood, Republicans were nearly three times more likely to support the cuts than Democrats. Sixty-two percent of Republicans would cut the group’s funding, while only 22 percent of Democrats would. Sixty-seven percent of Democrats say it should be left alone.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "New Video Shows Abortion Activists at Their Most Extreme" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com 3/11/11
Brian Burch, the head of CatholicVote.org talked about the new video in an email to LifeNews.com:
This is one of the most agonizing videos we have ever produced. Two weeks ago we sent our media team into the middle of a rally organized to defend taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. We wanted to expose what the defenders of Planned Parenthood really believe. What we witnessed left us speechless.
The abortion industry is often portrayed as a big-hearted caring industry that simply wants to serve low-income women. Their supporters claim that stripping Planned Parenthood and abortion providers of taxpayer funds will hurt everyone. Of course this is a lie. Planned Parenthood is billion-dollar organization that is chiefly concerned with one thing — the destruction of innocent human life.
The fight over taxpayer support for Planned Parenthood is about much more than budgets and deficits. The fight is ultimately about our vision for America — a vision that cherishes mothers, families and the gift of human life.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read, Media See Pro-lifers Gaining on Abortionists and also read America Turns Against Abortion on Demand
