After Republican lawmakers took the first step last week to defund Planned Parenthood, supporters of the abortion provider took action.
Many in the pro-life community have been emboldened with the election of Donald Trump, who vowed to defund Planned Parenthood if they continue to offer abortions and to support a late-term abortion ban. Pro-lifers have also made progress for their cause with the Republican-dominated Congress.
Last week, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan confirmed that Republican lawmakers are aiming to defund the abortion providing, stating, "Planned Parenthood legislation would be in our reconciliation bill.”
Toward that end, the House passed a budget measure that includes defunding Planned Parenthood of the $553.7 million it receives in taxpayer funding. Lawmakers hope to redirect funds to community healthcare centers which provide needed services for women, but do not provide abortions.
Many celebrities have taken up arms against the attack on Planned Parenthood and are fighting back, according to LifeNews.com.
Celebrities Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Fonda, Judd Apatow, and others have started a fundraiser they have dubbed a “Love-a-thon” through which they are raising funds to support Planned Parenthood.
Whoopi Goldberg, who co-hosts “The View,” also passionately expressed her support for the abortion-provider on the show, even going so far as to say that her religious beliefs encouraged her to support the services Planned Parenthood provides, including abortion: “[L]isten, my religious background says — okay — that I’m supposed to make sure that people are serviced. That’s what my religion says.”
Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards also stressed the important services the organization provides for women.
“Well we provide abortion services,” Richards acknowledged. “But we also provide millions of other services to folks and, again, I think it’s really important, Erin, yes, we provide abortion, we think it’s important. It’s a legal service that women need access to in this country,” Richards stated, speaking with CNN host Erin Burnett.
Photo courtesy: flickr.com
Publication date: January 9, 2017