Harry Reid: 'Not Budging' On Planned Parenthood Stance (VIDEO)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid signaled that Democrats will not waver in their opposition to Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood in the ongoing budget debate to avert a government shutdown ahead of a midnight deadline.

In an exclusive interview with CBS News on Friday, Reid asserted that he and his democratic colleagues "are not budging" on the issue. "I have nine granddaughters and I want them to have the peace of mind that if something later goes on I can't help them with, that they can go get a cancer screening, have some information that they can't get at home and we're not going to violate that," he said.

HuffPost's Elise Foley reported earlier in the day:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) gave a statement on the senate floor on Friday, blaming a possible shutdown on Tea Partiers and other Republicans who would not budge from their stance on Planned Parenthood funding. Senate Democrats will meet for a caucus meeting at 1 p.m. to discuss how to move forward, he announced.

Reid again said a deal had been reached on spending, with Democrats agreeing to record discretionary spending cuts. He said the final issue is over a rider that would block Title X funds to Planned Parenthood, which are used for pap smears, cancer screenings and other women's health services.

No funding from the government can be used for abortions, Reid noted. "Anyone who says this debate is over abortion is being untruthful," he said.

The Senate leader said, "Republicans want to shut down the government because they think there's nothing more important than getting cancer screening?" adding, "This is indefensible."

In the end, Reid said he's hopeful an agreement can be reached; however, he said whether that happens is not up to him. Of Republicans, he said, "We've agreed, we've agreed. It's up to them to drop this very, very mean-spirited attack on women."

Female Democratic senators spoke out on Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood on Friday afternoon.

Click here for live coverage of the latest developments to unfold ahead of a midnight deadline to avert a government shutdown.

WATCH:

Comments

[Andman0121]

11:49 AM on 04/09/2011

FINALLY some guts!

[Giveadamn]

09:56 AM on 04/09/2011

Budged.

[glenhilda]

09:46 AM on 04/09/2011

PP does not do mammograms. That claim has been thoroughly debunked.

[centsable]

11:14 AM on 04/09/2011

But they do refer.

[sus2222]

11:53 PM on 04/08/2011

The Buggers think we are paying for abortions and circumcisions. That's how misinformed they are. The money being discussed for Planned Parenthood pays for teaching kids how to be responsible and avoid unwanted pregnancies. WOW ! RADICAL !!!
They need to WISE-UP a little. And the thing where they want EVERY SPERMATAZOA to reach the age of ONE WEEK when they then cut-off all social systems except a job in a coal mine or CRAPMART, that sucks too.

[greyK]

11:36 PM on 04/08/2011

"It's up to them to drop this very, very mean-spirited attack on women."

Senator Reid is right. it's ridiculous to keep holding women's issues hostage. 1 move forward, 2 back.

[springsm]

11:13 PM on 04/08/2011

Thank you Harry, but what else did you have to give up that most of us think shouldn't be.  Since the Dems went three fourths of the way to 1....and the thugs didn't move...I wonder what we will find out tomorrow. 

[pattiepcomedy]

10:07 PM on 04/08/2011

Close it down. If it is based on Planned Parenthood, close it down. It's a bogus excuse. PP saves lives.

[MissingAmerica]

08:51 PM on 04/08/2011

Keep that stance! I'm sick of the Dems having to give the country away to the republicans. I would rather not move at all than to continue moving backwards, which is the direction we are headed since the GOP regained a toehold in our government. Let's all work hard next election to see to it that the country remembers these dark days and sends the GOP out of the capitol on a rail come November 2012. They are living for that election. Let's make it one they'll not soon forget!

[murphysgirl]

10:52 PM on 04/08/2011

Great post..Just watching Richards on The Ed Show and she asked the GOP: where are the jobs? The Tea Party has made out a social agenda wish list at the cost of millions of women in this country who look to Planned Parenthood for a variety of health issues..2012 will be a pivotal moment in America's history.

[iridium53]

08:27 PM on 04/08/2011

We'll see. Won't we?

Bet they cave.

[one tequila two tequila]

07:37 PM on 04/08/2011

Harry you are as phoney as a $3 dollar bill

[one tequila two tequila]

07:30 PM on 04/08/2011

Planned Parenthood spent more than $1 million electing Democrats last cycle

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/04/planned-parenthood-spent-more-1-million-electing-democrats-last-c#ixzz1IydmR8y6
HOW MUCH DID YOU GET HARRY?

[Dosadi]

07:54 PM on 04/08/2011

Psst!


It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
Mark Twain

[inkongirl]

08:36 PM on 04/08/2011

I always thought that Abraham Lincoln had made that quote. In any case it still rings true, unlike these representatives.

[one tequila two tequila]

09:06 PM on 04/08/2011

People must say that to you a lot, thank you for passing on your moniker.

[NWBrunette]

06:58 PM on 04/08/2011

Wow, Harry with a spine. Who would have thought? Of course we don't know yet all the other extremist waackadoodle nonsense he's already capitulated to.

[jwredd]

06:49 PM on 04/08/2011

Finally, a democratic position that is non negotiable!

[Velvettazz]

06:17 PM on 04/08/2011

Hang in there Harry!

[pattiepcomedy]

10:12 PM on 04/08/2011

You better!