The "clean bill" to strip all federal funding of abortionists was defeated in the Senate by every Democrat, plus five Republicans (in name only): Mark Kirk of Illinois, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Maine’s Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.
Democrats voting against defunding included self-described pro-lifers: Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
For background, read Abortion Funding Nixed in D.C., Still Funding Planned Parenthood and also read America Hinges on Defunding Planned Parenthood
UPDATE 4/24/11: Pro-abortion votes will haunt the above senators in 2012 election
UPDATE 4/17/11: Cash Floods into Planned Parenthood
UPDATE 10/3/14: Congress Again Fails to Defund Planned Parenthood
-- From "U.S. Senate Kills House Bills Targeting Health Law, Planned Parenthood" by James Rowley, Bloomberg 4/14/11
The House voted 241-185 to stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides contraception and abortion services. The legislation was voted down in the Senate, 42-58, with five Republicans joining the 53 members of the chamber’s Democratic caucus to oppose it.
In yesterday’s House votes, three Democrats broke with their party to support defunding the health-care law, while seven Republicans split with their caucus to oppose blocking funding for Planned Parenthood.
Federal law bars the expenditure of government money for abortions except under specific circumstances, such as to save a woman’s life. Republicans argued that providing funding to Planned Parenthood frees up other money that the organization can use for its abortion services.
Planned Parenthood affiliates received $363 million in government grants or contracts in the 2009 fiscal year, according to the organization’s 2008-2009 annual report.
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From "Planned Parenthood message war goes on" by Sarah Kliff & Jennifer Haberkorn, Politico 4/15/11
“Planned Parenthood plays an important role in providing services for women,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told POLITICO.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also emphasized the preventive services Planned Parenthood provides, especially when she became the first Republican senator to break with the party line on the issue.
“For every 33 pregnant women who walk into a Planned Parenthood, 32 receive an abortion,” Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) said on the House floor shortly before voting against Planned Parenthood’s federal funding.
“Planned Parenthood received $1 million a day and performed about 1,000 abortions a day,” said [Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)], who introduced the initial amendment to defund Planned Parenthood in the House Republicans’ budget.
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From "Planned Parenthood Funding Ban Fails in Senate" by Kevin J. Jones, Catholic News Agency 4/15/11
Cardinal DiNardo, the U.S. bishops' point man on pro-life activities, defended the proposed funding ban.
He said it was "indisputable" that Planned Parenthood is "by far the largest provider and promoter of abortions nationwide." The organization performs about one third of all abortions, over 332,000 in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009, and abortions account for over a third of its income.
"The organization has aborted over five million unborn children since 1970," the cardinal said.
Planned Parenthood's involvement in abortion has "substantially increased" in recent years while its provision of other services such as prenatal care and adoption referrals has declined "markedly." The national organization now insists that all affiliates provide abortions by 2013, he said.
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