There is one way and one way only to know who has won the budget battle. The winner is not determined by whether the budget cuts $40 or $60 billion from the monstrous deficit spending bill. You will know who has won by seeing if Planned Parenthood is defunded.
This is the fight. The only fight that matters. Without entitlement reform, the budget cuts are taking a few grains of sand off the beach. But this is a battle that means something and makes a difference.
[The Hill] Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) declared Thursday that a Republican proposal seeking to ban taxpayer dollars for Planned Parenthood will not be part of any agreement to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year.
Asked Thursday about the GOP proposal, Reid defended group, which provides abortions, and said the GOP measure will not be part of a long-term funding deal.
“[It] won’t be part of an agreement,” Reid said.
Reid’s vow will complicate negotiations on that spending deal. GOP leaders are under intense pressure from their members and outside groups to deny federal funds to Planned Parenthood. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who crafted the House amendment, has said it is time to pass his measure. It is one of 67 riders attached to the spending bill cleared by the House last month. Pence’s office declined to comment on Reid’s remarks.
Americans overwhelmingly do not want their tax dollars funding abortion. If Planned Parenthood is defunded, they will be recognizing the will of the American people and saving lives.
This is the fight that matters. There is no other.
March 18, 2011 at 2:13 am
Reid can go to hell.
March 18, 2011 at 2:59 am
Do with Planned Parenthood's funding what Planned Parenthood thinks it can do with whatever else is not wanted.
Kill. It.
March 18, 2011 at 3:40 am
This is the line in the sand. No more. De-fund Planned Parenthood, now, not next time, not next CR, not next FY, N-O-W! We cannot allow more blood of innocent un-born babies to be on our hands, it can't be. St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle.
March 18, 2011 at 11:36 am
Not to disagree, but even if Planned Parenthood is de-funded (which it seems like it will NOT be) they will continue to perform abortions and maybe even expand their services.
They might take an initial hit, but they will continue on.
So to say that this is the only fight, is probably not true.
March 18, 2011 at 12:36 pm
"GOP leaders are under intense pressure from their members and outside groups to deny federal funds to Planned Parenthood."
"outside groups"? Who exactly would that be? The public? This line indicates how political leadership sees itself as first of all head of its own group, and only secondly as serving the whole public.
March 19, 2011 at 12:06 am
I would like to see all those young women who celebrated their femininity and right to motherhood at the march of life descend upon Washington, upon the Senate near to the vote time and make their feelings noted raucously and determinedly
March 21, 2011 at 1:35 pm
"GOP leaders are under intense pressure from their members and outside groups to deny federal funds to Planned Parenthood."
Then this true nobleman, a certain Herr von Münchhausen, gave his king this magnificent answer: “My head is at your majesty’s disposal, but not my conscience.” Thus he wanted to say: I am ready to die for my king; indeed I am obedient to him and shall even accept death at the hands of the hangman. My life belongs to the king, not my conscience, that belongs to God!
We need to ask our representatives what is the first adjective they use to describe themselves. Hopefully it is Catholic.