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Planned Parenthood funding battle escalates as fourth 'sting' video released Planned Parenthood funding battle escalates as fourth 'sting' video released
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Related: Republicans use Planned Parenthood videos to launch latest abortion attackRelated: Republicans use Planned Parenthood videos to launch latest abortion attack
The anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress released a fourth “sting” video of Planned Parenthood officials discussing tissue collection from aborted fetuses. The video comes as the White House and top Planned Parenthood officials defend against Republican politicians’ attempts to defund the women’s health care clinics.The anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress released a fourth “sting” video of Planned Parenthood officials discussing tissue collection from aborted fetuses. The video comes as the White House and top Planned Parenthood officials defend against Republican politicians’ attempts to defund the women’s health care clinics.
The videos have largely focused on graphic images and the sometimes callous language used by Planned Parenthood officials to describe tissue donations collected from aborted fetuses. However, despite failing to prove illegal activity as the video’s creators purported, the videos have sparked calls to defund the group of clinics.The videos have largely focused on graphic images and the sometimes callous language used by Planned Parenthood officials to describe tissue donations collected from aborted fetuses. However, despite failing to prove illegal activity as the video’s creators purported, the videos have sparked calls to defund the group of clinics.
Many of the calls to defund have come from Republican politicians, including some of the party’s 17 presidential hopefuls now crowding the field. Planned Parenthood currently receives more than $500m in federal funding. No federal funding currently goes toward abortion care, as it is expressly forbidden by federal law.Many of the calls to defund have come from Republican politicians, including some of the party’s 17 presidential hopefuls now crowding the field. Planned Parenthood currently receives more than $500m in federal funding. No federal funding currently goes toward abortion care, as it is expressly forbidden by federal law.
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards on Wednesday penned an opinion piece in the Washington Post calling the attacks, “a new low”, and their creators “extremists”. Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards on Wednesday penned an opinion piece in the Washington Post calling the attacks “a new low”, and their creators “extremists”.
Support has also come from the White House. Press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters that the videos were edited in “a fraudulent way”, at a press briefing Thursday. That came one day after Republican politicians unveiled legislation to defund the group. Already, several Republican-led states have called for investigations into the clinics within their boundaries.Support has also come from the White House. Press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters that the videos were edited in “a fraudulent way”, at a press briefing Thursday. That came one day after Republican politicians unveiled legislation to defund the group. Already, several Republican-led states have called for investigations into the clinics within their boundaries.
This week, the anti-abortion group CMP released a third video and was blocked by a California judge from releasing footage surreptitiously taken of top officials at the tissue donation company StemExpress Inc.This week, the anti-abortion group CMP released a third video and was blocked by a California judge from releasing footage surreptitiously taken of top officials at the tissue donation company StemExpress Inc.
By Thursday, Republican presidential hopeful and Kentucky senator Rand Paul issued an email “urg[ing] taxpayers to take action against Planned Parenthood”, and touting himself as a “pro-life doctor”.By Thursday, Republican presidential hopeful and Kentucky senator Rand Paul issued an email “urg[ing] taxpayers to take action against Planned Parenthood”, and touting himself as a “pro-life doctor”.
Planned Parenthood has also asked the National Institutes of Health to convene a panel of experts to discuss fetal tissue donation, the area of science under attack in the CMP’s videos, the Associated Press reported.Planned Parenthood has also asked the National Institutes of Health to convene a panel of experts to discuss fetal tissue donation, the area of science under attack in the CMP’s videos, the Associated Press reported.
“[Senators] Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Joni Ernst should probably listen to the medical community before they decide to legislate health care for millions of people,” executive vice-president of Planned Parenthood Dawn Laguens said in a statement. “[Senators] Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz and Joni Ernst should probably listen to the medical community before they decide to legislate health care for millions of people,” executive vice-president of Planned Parenthood Dawn Laguens said in a statement.
“If this bill went into effect, blocking our health centers from serving patients who rely on publicly funded programs for health care, millions of people would struggle to access quality reproductive health care – period,” she said. “If this bill went into effect, blocking our health centers from serving patients who rely on publicly funded programs for health care, millions of people would struggle to access quality reproductive healthcare – period,” she said.