41 Democrat Senators Vow to Filibuster Budget if Planned Parenthood is defunded

[RCCCB]

If the Democrats did their job and passed this budget before the last election they would not be whining like biaches now IMO.
Instead they want to politically benefit from abdicating last years obligations.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Jill61

Oh, I don't know, maybe for the same reason that Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, Lutheran Family Services, and literally HUNDREDS of other faith-based charities have been funded by taxes?

"The March, 2004, issue of Church and State reports that the "Faith Czar" Jim Towey announced to reporters that $40 billion dollars was now available to religious charities."

Faith Base Initiative

OMG, you mean Bush had CZARS in his administration?? And none of the rightwingers were HYSTERICAL about their existence, let alone that they were funneling BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS to religious charities?

Will wonders never cease.

But G-d forbid $300 million goes to poor women and men who need reproductive healthcare. No way. We can't have that now, can we?

I wasn't making a statement. I really didn't know the answer to my question. If you started an organization tomorrow, that does exactly the same activities as Planned Parenthood, would you also get federal funding? If the answer is "yes" then the point would be then what's to stop Plan Parenthood from opening under a different name making the law to defund "them" pointless.

[Jill61]

Originally Posted by LauraC

I wasn't making a statement. I really didn't know the answer to my question. If you started an organization tomorrow, that does exactly the same activities as Planned Parenthood, would you also get federal funding? If the answer is "yes" then the point would be then what's to stop Plan Parenthood from opening under a different name making the law to defund "them" pointless.

Because 1) there is enormous value in name recognition when you are a charitable organization, and 2) if the government were to vote to stop funding them under their current name, they certainly wouldn't qualify for new funding while doing the same work under a different name. I should think this would be obvious.

[Dark Serge]

Originally Posted by Sophiasmommy

Half of America feels that abortion is murder and we don't want our taxpayer funds going towards murder. If these dems and Neo Progs in general are so pro abortion, let them pay for it through their donations; win/win.

Two words: HYDE AMENDMENT! Federal funds are not used for abortions, PERIOD.

Also: I am sick of people assuming PP is all about abortion. They provide a lot of general healthcare services to the poor and also help with birth control--you know, that thing that prevents a fetus from being created for y'all conservatives to mourn over. Good for the Dems to stand up for these services that the Republicans want to cut. Shows once again the Reps don't give a rat's about the lower classes.

[JimMe]

Originally Posted by Smash255

Abortion services are about 2-3% of what Planned Parenthood offers and those funds are separate from the government funds as per title X funding rules.

Those against it goes way beyond the 41, and also includes Republicans.

Murkowski, Collins, Snowe, Brown and hell even Thad Cochran are on record opposing the Planned Parenthood cuts

And that's the rub, isn't it? Whether PP provides abortions is not the real issue. Rather, the real issue, which even some Republicans can't seem to grasp, is that Congressmen and Congresswomen are not empowered by the Constitution to use federal tax dollars to fund their pet hobbyhorses. I don't care if it's PP or ethanol or the arts or NPR--you name it. It is unconstitutional, pure and simple. You want these things? Then take up a collection and pay for it. Don't use the coercive power of the state for your own purposes.