Abortion Congress War On Women

House Republicans Schedule 2 Votes Against Planned Parenthood

Written by SK Ashby

The House has only held one hearing on Planned Parenthood, a hearing which didn't actually include any Planned Parenthood staff or officials, but they have scheduled two votes ostensibly prompted by the selectively edited smear videos.

The first, sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), would place a one-year moratorium on federal funding to any Planned Parenthood affiliates that conduct abortions while investigations into the videos' claims continue.

The second, McCarthy said, "adds criminal penalties to people who violate the Born Alive act, for medical providers who fail to provide medical care to a baby who survives the abortion procedure." It will be sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), he said.

The American people "have a right to know exactly what is happening," says House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and to that end the House will pass this pair of bills which will "ensure that we will get all the facts."

It's not clear how defunding Planned Parenthood for one year would ensure that Americans "get all the facts."

Planned Parenthood also hasn't been accused of violating the Born Alive act as far I'm aware of. Furthermore, failing to provide medical care to a live baby is already a criminal act. The only reason to relitigate the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act is to implicate Planned Parenthood in a whisper campaign.

By their own admission and in their own terms, House Republicans do not know "exactly what is happening" or if anything has happened (they've only held one hearing and issued no reports), but they're taking action regardless.

It's not as if they have anything actually important to do, like fund the government.