Posted on 01/08/2017 12:12:49 PM PST by mdittmar
Senators Murray, Cantwell, and Democratic Colleagues Demand Speaker Ryan Cease “Harmful, Partisan” Path Toward Defunding Planned Parenthood
Senators make clear in new letter to Speaker Ryan they are prepared to fight back to protect “wellbeing and lives” of millions of women, men, and families nationwide that rely on Planned Parenthood
Senators remind Speaker Ryan that President-elect Trump praised Planned Parenthood as doing “very good work for millions of women” and that families “overwhelmingly” support its work
(Washington, D.C.) – Following an announcement that House Republicans will attempt to defund Planned Parenthood in reconciliation legislation repealing the Affordable Care Act, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NV), Mazie K Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan demanding that he and Republicans drop attacks on the nation’s largest women’s health care provider and put the health and wellbeing of women and families ahead of their party’s extreme politics.
“We are outraged at your promise to defund Planned Parenthood…but we are not surprised…since 2007 when Vice President-elect Pence first waged the battle to defund our nation’s largest provider of women’s health care, we have seen 16 attempts and reached the brink of shutdown,” wrote the Senators in the letter. “Your decision to continue down this harmful, partisan path this year will put the wellbeing and lives of women nationwide at risk—and we urge you to put those patients’ needs ahead of scoring political points.”
In the letter, the Senators point out that Planned Parenthood serves roughly 2.5 million patients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and that many families rely on Planned Parenthood as their primary source of health care. The Senators warn Republicans against “doubling down on repeal and defunding Planned Parenthood” as the “overwhelming share of Americans—69 percent of voters including 56 percent of Republicans—support Planned Parenthood.”
“The women and men who rely on Planned Parenthood are Republicans and Democrats alike—and they did not vote for an extreme political agenda that undermines their access to quality, affordable health care at providers they trust. We urge you to stop the attack on Planned Parenthood immediately.”
The full text of the letter is below and HERE:
January 6, 2017
The Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
The Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Speaker Ryan:
As we begin this new Congress, we are outraged at your promise to defund Planned Parenthood as Republicans rush to rip apart the health care system, but we are not surprised. We have seen this before. In fact, since 2007 when Vice President-elect Pence first waged the battle to defund our nation’s largest provider of women’s health care, we have seen 16 attempts and reached the brink of shutdown, led by extreme, right-wing Republicans to undermine and end women’s access to care at clinics across the country. Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood would make America sick again by denying women access to vital, affordable health care services.
Your decision to continue down this harmful, partisan path this year will put the wellbeing and lives of women nationwide at risk—and we urge you to put those patients’ needs ahead of scoring political points.
An overwhelming share of Americans—69 percent of voters including 56 percent of Republicans—support Planned Parenthood and oppose shutting down the federal government over its funding. One in five women uses Planned Parenthood as her primary means of health care. In fact, Planned Parenthood serves 2.5 million patients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, sixty percent of whom are women and families who are Medicaid beneficiaries. In one-fifth of the counties in which they are located, Planned Parenthood sites are the sole safety-net family planning center. Doubling down on repeal and defunding Planned Parenthood ensures that women across the country must bear twice the burden.
Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood would harm communities who can least afford it, ultimately increasing health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) when scoring previous Republican proposals to defund Planned Parenthood made clear that the people most likely to experience reduced access to care would likely reside in areas without access to other health care clinics or medical practitioners who serve low-income populations. CBO even estimated that the House’s extreme right-wing bill to fully defund Planned Parenthood would cost taxpayers over $130 million because 45 percent of all births are paid for by Medicaid.
As you know, President-elect Trump praised Planned Parenthood on the campaign trail and affirmed that it has done “very good work for millions of women.” We urge you to reconsider putting partisan political fights ahead of women’s access to health care. The women and men who rely on Planned Parenthood are Republicans and Democrats alike—and they did not vote for an extreme political agenda that undermines their access to quality, affordable health care at providers they trust. We urge you to stop the attack on Planned Parenthood immediately.
Sincerely,
###
so lemme get this straight- ‘millions of women’ will die if they aren’t allowed to murder their child?
I’m old enough to remember back when you lost elections, that you didn’t get to make demands.
“protect “wellbeing and lives” of millions of women, men, and families “ Notice it says nothing about the “wellbeing and lives” of over 30 million aborted unborn humans. Those aren’t “lives” in their vernacular. These people are pure evil.
Where’s enemy islamist Ellison?
Amtrak has been recognized by the Supreme Court as part of the government in recent litigation originated by the Class I railroads.
Government control
But not by much.........;)
Democrats Demand Republicans Stop Pursuing Republican Agenda.
-PJ
Excellent opportunity for righties - they cant fight 65 things at once - pick the thing they care the most about and attack that and ease the pressure on all the other fronts - then attack attack attack everywhere!
What about the baby’s health, the one that “mommy dearest,” abortion doctor, nurses and hospitals,” are ENDING by destroying said baby’s life?
If it’s such a good thing, why don’t all these Planned Parenthood fans simply donate their own money? Why does it need to be subsidized by the US federal government? I know there is no shortage of rich, leftist actors and actresses out there on the West Coast, and Democrat congressmen and women and their billionaire technocrat friends certainly aren’t poor. Let them fund Planned Parenthood.
Why is the federal government in the business of subsidizing pretty much anything, left or right? Consider the NRA. Gun safety training, it can be argued, is a valuable public service. Just think of the lives that are potentially saved! Ask whether the government should fund the NRA, and I’m sure these Democrats will say NO!
I’m outraged that the dem party has bought the votes of feminazis by using taxpayer money to fund PP.
I am confused as to how PP is being funded. Does a medicaid recipient go there and PP is reimbursed by medicaid for service provided, or do they get funded by grants and direct subsidy? Also, how does a family rely on PP for health care? Do they do pediatrics, or general internal medicine?
1B abortions worldwide? Hitler is a piker next to this generation.
“I’m outraged that the dem party has bought the votes of feminazis ...”
There are probably millions of promiscuous men who LOVE the “service” that PP provides, too. It provides freedom from responsibility.
Rats are getting worried.
Don’t worry, girls, Ryan is all talk.
Senate Murray, Patty (D-WA) $84,887
No one has the right to other people’s money to kill their unborn baby.
All reported rape victims get the progesterone pill in case a pregnancy occurred, which it probably did not.
Defund all abortion clinics. Let the left start abortion charities if they love free abortions so much. I can only imagine the heartwarming tv commercials.
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