RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Just days after a gunman shot and killed 3 people outside a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, senate Republicans voted to end the organization’s federal funding.
With the bill now headed to the president’s desk, those for and against the measure have drastically opposing views on the potential impact in Central Virginia.
In a 52-to-47 vote, GOP lawmakers moved to take away the money Planned Parenthood receives from federal taxpayers. Abortion opponents were encouraged by the message from Republican leadership.
“I think Virginians are going to be very excited about this vote today,” said Jessica Cochrane, executive vice president at The Family Foundation.
Women’s health advocates, however, saw the move as a potential blow to millions of Americans.
“Federal funds do not pay for abortion to begin with,” said Cathy Easter, executive director at Safe Harbor Shelter in Richmond. “The focus of this legislation has been to fight abortion, which is completely off target. What they’ll be cutting funding for is women’s healthcare, specifically birth control.”
Expecting a veto from the president, senate Republicans want to send a signal to 2016 voters that electing a Republican to the White House could doom the Affordable Care Act and cripple Planned Parenthood.
“That will negatively impact women- they won’t be able to get affordable care like they can with Planned Parenthood,” said Easter.
After the house’s expected approval of the bill, the legislation will be the first to reach President Obama’s desk demolishing his health care law and blocking Planned Parenthood’s federal money. Opponents of Planned Parenthood said there are many alternatives that provide women with access to health care.
“There are thousands of clinics across the nation including 200 in Virginia that provide services to women who need them, so we’d love to see clinics like that get funding as opposed to Planned Parenthood,” said Cochrane.
The House of Representatives is expected to send the bill to President Obama in the coming days. The White House has pledged that the president will veto it.
