POLITICS

Donnelly one of two Democrats to vote to de-fund Planned Parenthood

Maureen Groppe
Star Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON – Sen. Joe Donnelly was one of only two Democrats to vote Monday for an unsuccessful effort to strip Planned Parenthood of the more than $500 million in federal funding it receives each year.

The Senate voted 53-46 for a procedural motion to call up the bill, falling short of the 60 votes necessary to advance it. But the debate is likely to reignite this fall and could lead to a possible government shutdown.

Sen. Dan Coats joined nearly all Senate Republicans in backing the bill, which was a reaction to undercover videos released by the anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress that show Planned Parenthood employees discussing how they extract aborted fetal tissue for medical research.

"The barbaric practice of conducting abortions in a way that promotes harvesting fetal organs, or profiting from such practices, has no place in modern society," Coats said during the debate. "Planned Parenthood's disgusting practices should not receive a dime of taxpayer money."

Donnelly had not said in advance how he would vote, although even though he had supported a similar measure in the House in 2011.

Donnelly said in a statement after the vote that he can't support federal funding for Planned Parenthood until it's clear that all clinics are complying with federal and state laws regarding medical use of fetal tissues.

The group has said it does not profit from the sale of fetal tissue and has done nothing improper or illegal.

But several governors, including Indiana's Mike Pence, have called for investigations of whether clinics in their states have illegally profited from fetal organ donations. The Indiana State Department of Health concluded last week that "there was no evidence of this type of activity" in Indiana.

"While Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana do not partake in fetal tissue donation and were found to be following the law, today's vote is about Planned Parenthood clinics around the country," Donnelly said. "I cannot in good faith support federal funding for this organization until the questions of whether other clinics are complying with federal and state laws are answered."

Besides Donnelly, the other Democrat who voted for the bill was Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. GOP Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois opposed the bill.

Donnelly had been pressured by Indiana Right to Life to vote to defund Planned Parenthood and had been pressured from the other side in ads by the organization's political arm to "stand with Planned Parenthood."

"Banning federal funding for Planned Parenthood would have a devastating impact on women, men and families — especially those in medically underserved communities and with low incomes — for preventive care, including Pap tests, breast and testicular cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and treatment, and annual wellness exams," said Betty Cockrum, head of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky.

She said the effects of losing the services can be seen in Scott County, which had no source for HIV testing and education after a Planned Parenthood clinic closed in 2013. This year, Scott County became the face of the nation's opioid addiction epidemic after an unprecedented HIV outbreak linked to the injection of oral painkillers.

The federal funding the Senate voted on includes money from the Title X Family Planning Program, which helps pay for various care and preventive services.

One-third of Indiana patients who benefit from Title X family planning services get them from Planned Parenthood, according to the organization.

Federal law already bars Planned Parenthood from using any federal funds it receives each year for abortions.

Monday's vote was largely symbolic because it was clear that Republicans did not have the supermajority needed to move forward. For Republicans, taking on Planned Parenthood could appeal to conservative voters in next year's GOP primaries. For Democrats, defense of abortion rights and access to contraception are key issues for their base.

The issue is likely to re-emerge in the fall as conservatives in the House and Senate vow to block passage of 2016 spending bills unless federal funding for Planned Parenthood is halted. The White House has vowed to veto any legislation that would end funding for the organization.

A similar bill introduced in the House has been co-sponsored by all of Indiana's seven GOP House members except Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Carmel.

Email Maureen Groppe at mgroppe@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mgroppe.