With the possibility of a government shutdown inching closer by the day, a handful of conservative members are standing by their threat to vote against any measure that provides funding for Planned Parenthood.
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan said he thinks the establishment is giving up on its fight against the organization, which has come under fire after videos emerged allegedly showing doctors discussing selling fetal baby parts, before a fair debate has even begun.
“We haven’t made the case, all they hear is Mitch McConnell saying ‘We can’t win, this is a futile effort,'” Jordan told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus, along with Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz in the upper chamber, have made the argument that Democrats would be at fault if the government runs out of money, since they won’t pass bill that funds federal programs while excluding Planned Parenthood.
“I think the facts are the facts, Planned Parenthood has been shown on video to have engaged in activity that is just wrong, outrageous and terrible — thats the key,” Jordan said, suggesting funds should be appropriated to another organization that doesn’t provide abortions. “It shouldn’t get your tax dollars.”
Don Stewart, a spokesman for Sen. Mitch McConnell, said the majority leader is doing what he can to defund the women’s health group, citing that McConnell brought an anti-abortion bill to the floor Tuesday, which failed to pass the Senate, and scheduled a vote Thursday for a continuing resolution that would divert federal funding for the organization.
“Shutting down the government is a futile effort because it doesn’t defund Planned Parenthood,” he said.
According to a study by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Center, Planned Parenthood would continue to receive federal funding, including money from Medicaid, in the event of a shutdown.
The president also said he would veto any bill that attempts to cut funding.
A recent CNN poll sows 75 percent of Americans are more concerned with keeping the government open than defunding the organization.
Republicans seemed to take the brunt of the heat for shutting down the government in 2013, after conservatives attempted to defund the Affordable Care Act as part of a critical spending bill.
Jordan said, while he doesn’t regret trying to delay Obamacare, he wishes conservatives had taken a different approach and stuck by their position.
The Ohio politician added that his party took a strong stance on the issue and won the election the following year by a landslide.
“I’m not saying what we did in 2013 helped us win the election,” he said. “But as far as Republicans taking the blame, I don’t see the logic.”
Congress has until Sept. 30 to pass a budget.
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