Boehner in 'war' against Planned Parenthood
(CNN) – House Speaker John Boehner is stepping up his attacks against Planned Parenthood, the partially public-funded organization that offers several health care services to low-income women.
Speaking to the Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody, Boehner vigorously supported a recent House vote that defunds the organization entirely, a move that would strip it of more than $75 million in government cash.
Currently, the organization is allowed to apply government subsidies to all services except abortion procedures. Critics argue that restriction is too limited, saying that applying the government's money to other procedures leaves more of the group's own cash on hand to allocate to abortion-related services.
"The goal here again is to cut spending and keep the government open," Boehner said of the move to defund the organization, in an interview published Sunday. "I met with a lot of religious leaders earlier today to talk about the strategy and I think it's important that we understand that what we want to do here is win the war not just win a battle and there will be an opportunity sometime in order to win the big war and we're looking for that opportunity."
The defunding vote from the lower chamber came as part of a continuing resolution that included dramatic spending cuts across a range of programs. The Democrat-controlled Senate is set to consider the spending bill this week and is likely to reject a significant amount of the GOP's spending cuts, including those that affect Planned Parenthood.
But despite Boehner's support of defunding the group – a move that has long been supported by social conservatives – the House Speaker says he's not willing to shut down the government over that measure alone.
"There are a lot of options on the table but I don't think in the short term, the CR (continuing resolution) is the opportunity we're looking for," Boehner said
The interview comes a day before Planned Parenthood launched a new ad week-long $200,000 ad campaign on radio, cable and television networks in the Washington, DC market seeking to raise awareness for the variety of services it provides and apply pressure to the Senate ahead of its budget vote.
The spot features Carolyn Smithers, a woman who says she was diagnosed early at a Planned Parenthood facility with cervical cancer.
"Without Planned Parenthood, I wouldn't be here today," she says.
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Keep religion OUT of POLITICS!!! The way Boehner and Company THINK – is NOT what the majority of Americans THINK and/or believe!!!
Why in the hell is PLANNED PARENTHOOD being attacked??
Bargaining Rights – Middle Class Rights are being hijacked!!
What got elected in 2010 is a bunch of snobs!!!
Boehner I will ask you – Where are the JOBS??????
The RepubliCAN’Ts main goal now is a waste of time
They THOUGHT in 2012 was the end of Obama’s line
So now they must think about other ways to destroy
His beliefs, our rights and the whole LEFT’S convoy!!
"I met with a lot of religious leaders earlier today to talk about the strategy " – since when are Religious (Christian) leaders in charge of our Government?!? I thought religion & politics are to remain separate? Religion should stay out of government, it's the cause of almost every war since the beginning of time. PP should be the least of their concerns.
Face it, the GOP would love to gather up all the poor and disenfranchised and fly them to some island of the poor. They don't even hide the fact that they hate the poor. ABORTION IS A LEGAL PROCEDURE IN THIS COUNTRY. If you and your God-loving, People-hating constituents hate abortion so much, try and make it illegal. This country is going down the old sewer more and more every day.
Eventually, you all shall see that the Republicans are an accult that bonds together like glue. These people wish to destroy American and the poor and middle class citizens who live here. The Republicans are the anti-christ at its best. The Republicans are America's Taliban.
Reps. ran on jobs, now one of the things they want to take funding from is Job training programs. We all agree the deficit needs addressing, but to cut funding from Planned Parenthood and services to the poor is not the way to do it. I'm waiting to hear how willing members of Congress will be to reduce their salaries. Ha Ha!! Maybe they should look seriously at how the country is looking at what is going on in WI. Are they going to realize the public is growing tired of bought elections that are bent on destroying middle class workers? Unless Dems. stand up in 2012 we will all be owned by the Koch bros. and other billionaires.
@Marcus - good luck convincing the Pro-Lifers that their tax dollars don't fund abortions. They don't want to hear it, even when they are given the facts of the Hyde Act and Obama's Executive Order signed March 2010, upholding the Hyde Act, both of which prohibit taxpayer funds to be used for abortions. These fools just keep coming back with their "why should MY tax dollars fund abortions" time, and time, again with the same lobbyist message.
These neanderthals will not be happy until all women are barefoot, pregnant and back to only being in the kitchen or on the bed, where they 'belong.'
It amazes me there are so many people who think the government funds Planned Parenthood's abortions. It is not true, people! Not one cent of the taxpayer's money goes to fund abortions at Planned Parenthood. People should actually do their research and realize there are many, many benefits of Planned Parenthood. As many already said, Planned Parenthood provides educational and counseling services, as well as, birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies that would otherwise end up in abortions or falling on the welfare system which would cost more than the funding that currently goes to Planned Parenthood. Wake up people, the GOP wants to distract us with these social issues and not the real issues that need to be solved. It is time for both sides to sit down and work on issues that more important during these struggling times for our country.
Ancient Texan, your argument is weak. On your same line of reasoning you can argue that we have been saved from a generation of Hitlers, Stalins, Palins etc. I am surprised that you included a scientist, a Democrat and a Pacifist in your list, why no conservatives?
They are going for broke now. They realize it will not be long before they are "found out", so they are taking\destroying anything that will complete the destruction of the middle class. This will set-up the feudal system again with the heads of corporations being the new Kings, Lords and Barons of the world. What a lovely world they are building for us all. No joke folks.
Mark - The $200,000 ad campaign money came from donations. I am a supporter of PP and frequently get e-mails from them. Since Boehner has decided to wage "war" against PP, those e-mails began asking for donations specifically for an ad campaign to raise awareness about this attack on women's rights. Do a little research before assuming they are rolling in the dough.
The problem with the Republican/Tea Party and abortion is it is all well and good to proclaim themselves the "Party of Life". The problem is while they are against abortion "to save lives" everything else they do has huge impacts on the poor, children and the elderly. It is as if the Reps have ADD- abortion is easy to get whipped up over, but once someone is born they don't care- and infact seem to try to make life harder and worse for everyone but themselves and the rich.