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| Planned Parenthood hearing launches House Republicans' defunding effort | Planned Parenthood hearing launches House Republicans' defunding effort |
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| A three-hour committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, which was by turns provocative, hyperbolic and emotional, marked the launch of an effort by House Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood. | A three-hour committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, which was by turns provocative, hyperbolic and emotional, marked the launch of an effort by House Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood. |
| The hearing – the first of several planned – came in the wake of a controversy over undercover videos recorded by anti-abortion activists who claim Planned Parenthood officials illegally profited from the sale of fetal tissue, a claim the organization has wholly denied. | The hearing – the first of several planned – came in the wake of a controversy over undercover videos recorded by anti-abortion activists who claim Planned Parenthood officials illegally profited from the sale of fetal tissue, a claim the organization has wholly denied. |
| Among the four experts invited to speak, only one supported Planned Parenthood and the health services it provides women nationwide. Priscilla Smith, director of the program for the Study of Reproductive Justice at Yale’s law school, was questioned for hours by House Republicans over her views on abortion and her defense of the organization, which she referred to as a “beloved institution”. | Among the four experts invited to speak, only one supported Planned Parenthood and the health services it provides women nationwide. Priscilla Smith, director of the program for the Study of Reproductive Justice at Yale’s law school, was questioned for hours by House Republicans over her views on abortion and her defense of the organization, which she referred to as a “beloved institution”. |
| During a round of questions, Representative Bob Goodlatte, who chairs the judiciary committee, asked Smith whether she believed that the dilation and evacuation abortion procedure is “humane”. Smith replied that for a fetus that could not survive outside the womb, she believed the procedure is a humane way to end a pregnancy. | During a round of questions, Representative Bob Goodlatte, who chairs the judiciary committee, asked Smith whether she believed that the dilation and evacuation abortion procedure is “humane”. Smith replied that for a fetus that could not survive outside the womb, she believed the procedure is a humane way to end a pregnancy. |
| “I have to say that your view of humanity and mine are different,” Goodlatte interrupted her, without letting her finish. | “I have to say that your view of humanity and mine are different,” Goodlatte interrupted her, without letting her finish. |
| Representative Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, pressed her: “You would not assert that it’s inhumane to dismember an unborn baby?” Smith attempted to explain that she would not describe it in the same terms, but he cut her off. | Representative Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, pressed her: “You would not assert that it’s inhumane to dismember an unborn baby?” Smith attempted to explain that she would not describe it in the same terms, but he cut her off. |
| Smith argued that defunding Planned Parenthood was counterintuitive if lawmakers’ goal is to prevent abortions. | Smith argued that defunding Planned Parenthood was counterintuitive if lawmakers’ goal is to prevent abortions. |
| “The horrible irony here,” Smith said during her testimony, “is that defunding Planned Parenthood would increase the number of unintended pregnancies and drastically … increase the number of abortions.” | |
| Lawmakers also heard from two “abortion survivors” who recounted the stories of how their mothers’ attempt to abort them failed, and James Bopp, a lawyer for National Right to Life and a champion of conservative causes. | Lawmakers also heard from two “abortion survivors” who recounted the stories of how their mothers’ attempt to abort them failed, and James Bopp, a lawyer for National Right to Life and a champion of conservative causes. |
| Related: Planned Parenthood not invited to congressional hearing on organization | Related: Planned Parenthood not invited to congressional hearing on organization |
| Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, had said the committee’s investigation into the women’s health organization is aimed at protecting taxpayers from funding the “horrific abortion practices” suggested by a series of sting videos recorded by a group of pro-life activists. But Republicans made no effort to conceal their broader motives. | Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, had said the committee’s investigation into the women’s health organization is aimed at protecting taxpayers from funding the “horrific abortion practices” suggested by a series of sting videos recorded by a group of pro-life activists. But Republicans made no effort to conceal their broader motives. |
| “When they came into Planned Parenthood, they were living, feeling human children, and they died while they were there,” said Representative Trent Franks, a Republican from Arizona. “Don’t forget that these were once little babies that were killed at the hands of Planned Parenthood.” | “When they came into Planned Parenthood, they were living, feeling human children, and they died while they were there,” said Representative Trent Franks, a Republican from Arizona. “Don’t forget that these were once little babies that were killed at the hands of Planned Parenthood.” |
| No representative of Planned Parenthood was invited to attend the hearing – titled Examining the Horrific Abortion Practices at the Nation’s Largest Abortion Provider – which the organization called “political theater at its worst”. | No representative of Planned Parenthood was invited to attend the hearing – titled Examining the Horrific Abortion Practices at the Nation’s Largest Abortion Provider – which the organization called “political theater at its worst”. |
| “From the provocative title to the slate of lifelong anti-abortion activists invited to testify, it’s clear this hearing was not about Planned Parenthood – it was a chance for anti-abortion extremists and members of Congress to promote their political agenda of banning abortion in this country,” Dawn Laguens, executive vice-president for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. | |
| Several Democrats echoed the sentiment, saying it was unfortunate that a hearing had been called over the videos. | Several Democrats echoed the sentiment, saying it was unfortunate that a hearing had been called over the videos. |
| “The real agenda here is pretty obvious, which is to try to outlaw or eliminate abortion in the United States,” said Representative Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California. “That is a right that women have under the constitution, at least in the first trimester, and I think this is a thinly veiled attack on that right.” | “The real agenda here is pretty obvious, which is to try to outlaw or eliminate abortion in the United States,” said Representative Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California. “That is a right that women have under the constitution, at least in the first trimester, and I think this is a thinly veiled attack on that right.” |
| Goodlatte defended the investigation, saying that Congress is obliged to “do what [it] can to ensure federal taxpayers are not contributing to the sorts of horrors reflected in the undercover videos”. | Goodlatte defended the investigation, saying that Congress is obliged to “do what [it] can to ensure federal taxpayers are not contributing to the sorts of horrors reflected in the undercover videos”. |
| Meanwhile, at least two dozen congressmen have vowed to do “everything within [their] power” to defund Planned Parenthood, including shutting the government down in protest, which the Republican leadership does not support. | |
| “We must act to fully defund Planned Parenthood,” they stated in a letter. “Please know that we cannot and will not support any funding resolution – an appropriations bill, an omnibus package, a continuing resolution, or otherwise – that contains any funding for Planned Parenthood, including mandatory funding streams.” | “We must act to fully defund Planned Parenthood,” they stated in a letter. “Please know that we cannot and will not support any funding resolution – an appropriations bill, an omnibus package, a continuing resolution, or otherwise – that contains any funding for Planned Parenthood, including mandatory funding streams.” |
| The congressmen have agreed not to approve a spending bill that includes funding for Planned Parenthood. The standoff could trigger a government shutdown if it prevents Congress from passing a spending bill before 1 October. | The congressmen have agreed not to approve a spending bill that includes funding for Planned Parenthood. The standoff could trigger a government shutdown if it prevents Congress from passing a spending bill before 1 October. |
| “We’ve seen this before – and it’s deeply disappointing to see Republicans once again listening to the Tea Party and putting politics ahead of women’s health,” Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, said on Wednesday. “Democrats simply aren’t going to let that happen on our watch.” | “We’ve seen this before – and it’s deeply disappointing to see Republicans once again listening to the Tea Party and putting politics ahead of women’s health,” Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, said on Wednesday. “Democrats simply aren’t going to let that happen on our watch.” |