Republicans Strip Abortion Providers of Family Planning Funds

FEATURING CHRISTINE GRIMALDI – Using every single vote at their disposal Senate Republicans on Thursday passed a bill by a one-vote margin to strip reproductive healthcare providers, including Planned Parenthood, of federal funding that covers family planning services.

Because two female Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against the bill, Republicans had to scramble to get enough votes, and brought in Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson who was recovering from back surgery, to vote for it. Still missing one vote, Vice President Mike Pence was required, for the second time in the Trump administration’s short-lived tenure, to break a tie.

Now, the bill will go to Donald Trump for his signature, effectively overturning a protection put in place under President Barack Obama that allowed federal funds to be used toward cancer screening, contraception and annual gynecological exams for low-income American women.

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Christine Grimaldi, Federal Policy Reporter for Rewire News.