Paul Ryan Says GOP to Quickly Defund Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood says it stands to lose about 40% of its funding
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 5, 2017 3:48 PM CST
Paul Ryan Says GOP to Quickly Defund Planned Parenthood
House Speaker Paul Ryan says Republicans will move quickly to defund Planned Parenthood.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Paul Ryan says Republicans will pass a "fast-track bill" defunding Planned Parenthood as soon as next month as part of their repeal of ObamaCare, the Washington Post reports. Republicans will use a special legislative procedure that allows a bill to be passed with a simple majority instead of a supermajority. Planned Parenthood says about 40% of its funding is at risk if the bill passes. Republicans say the move to defund Planned Parenthood is about fighting abortion, according to CNN. However, federal money hasn't legally been allowed to fund abortions for 40 years, prohibited by the Hyde amendment attached to funding bills. Instead, federal funds received by Planned Parenthood pay for pregnancy tests, breast cancer screenings, birth control, and other preventive health care. (More Planned Parenthood stories.)

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