Opinion: U.S. Senate Keeps Money Flowing to Planned Parenthood

by the Missouri Family Policy Council

The United States Senate has voted to continue allocating federal taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood. The Senate voted down a resolution previously approved by the U.S. House of Representatives which would have terminated funding for the nation's leading abortion provider. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill voted to continue the flow of federal dollars to Planned Parenthood, while Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted to terminate future federal subsidies to Planned Parenthood.

"This vote made clear which senators care more about the interests of the politically influential abortion lobby than the lives and safety of American women and families," says Charmaine Yoest, President of Americans United for Life. Planned Parenthood clinics performed more than 332,000 abortions during 2009. Yoest points out that Planned Parenthood has announced plans to expand its abortion operations, mandating that every affilite must have at least one abortion clinic within the next two years. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, says the Senate vote is an affront to taxpayers at a time of trillion-dollar budget deficits. "Taxpayers send Planned Parenthood more than $360 million each year, more than one-third of their $1 billion income. At a time when the federal deficit is growing to suffocating proportions, taxpayers should not be subsidizing a scandal-plagued abortion giant."

The victory for Planned Parenthood comes in the wake of extremely damaging recent information concerning Planned Parenthood's business practices. Undercover videos showed numerous Planned Parenthood clinics willing to collaborate with individuals engaged in human trafficking. Previous repulsive practices uncovered included a willingness to cover up cases of statutory rape, and a willingness to accept donations for the purpose of aborting black preborn children. The U.S. House had previously voted 241-185 to zero out federal funding of Planned Parenthood. Missouri Congressmen Todd Akin, Sam Graves, Billy Long, and Blaine Luetkemeyer, and Congresswomen Jo Ann Emerson and Vicky Hartzler voted to halt federal appropriations to Planned Parenthood. Congressmen William "Lacy" Clay, Emmanuel Cleaver, and Russ Carnahan voted to support funding for the nation's leading agent of death for children in the womb.