Republican efforts to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood is emerging as another showdown in Congress, the latest in a contentious budgetary process. With record budget deficits, Republicans are promoting the move as a way to save taxpayers money while limiting the role of the federal government.
The president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, is fighting to save her organization’s budget. Joining C-SPAN’s Newsmakers, she accused Republicans of turning a social issue into “a political vendetta against women’s healthcare.”
Instead of saving taxpayers money, she maintains, defunding Planned Parenthood would cost the government an “additional $200 million at minimum to provide the same services from somewhere else.” She cited the group’s ability to “do more with less,” calling it “the most cost-effective, high-quality provider in the country.”
The organization, the largest family planning provider in the U.S., currently receives $300 million from the government. Those funds are solely used for family planning, cancer screening and other preventative treatments, according to Richards.
Last month the House passed the amendment, which was sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), as part of a larger budget bill that cuts $60 billion for the rest of the fiscal year. However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has come out against the amendment, along with Republican Scott Brown (MA).