This story was updated Friday to show the Senate vote against Sen. Rand Paul’s effort to defund Planned Parenthood.
By a vote of 45 to 48, his amendment was rejected. It would have would barred Planned Parenthood and other abortion outlets from receiving federal funding.
The Kentucky senator late last week signaled that he would offer an amendment to the appropriations bill funding the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, the relevant legislative vehicle for the Planned Parenthood funding ban.
Paul said in a statement that his effort was being blocked by leadership, but they rejected that claim and he did get a vote Thursday.
President Trump has proposed cutting funds to Planned Parenthood. The agency gets federal funds for its women’s health care but not abortion, though polls suggest that Republicans want the money train ended because it does abortion or refers to others that do.
A recent McLaughlin & Associates survey found that a plurality — 48 percent — support cutting funds.
In a statement announcing his amendment, Paul said, “One of the top priorities for a Republican Congress that professes pro-life values on the campaign trail should be to stop taxpayer funding for abortion providers.” He added, “This is our chance to turn our words into action, stand up for the sanctity of life, and speak out for the most innocent among us that have no voice.”
The language is similar to what the House passed in July. It would still allow funding for women’s health providers not involved in abortion.
LifeSiteNews.com reported that Planned Parenthood received more than $543 million in fiscal year 2016-2017. The site added, “It is forbidden from spending that money directly on most abortions, but pro-lifers warn that subsidies earmarked for non-abortion purposes ultimately enable abortion groups to commit more abortions by freeing up money from their other revenue services. Duke University healthcare analyst Chris Conover estimates that taxpayers end up covering almost 25 percent of all abortion costs.”
[Also read: Vulnerable red-state Democrats vote against defunding Planned Parenthood]
