Bob Dold Introduces Bill To Protect Planned Parenthood Funding

Planned Parenthood does not have many GOP friends in Congress, but one rare, pro-choice Republican in the House of Representatives stuck his neck out on Wednesday and announced his plan to protect the family planning provider from his party's political attacks.

Freshman Rep. Bob Dold (R-Ill.) on Wednesday introduced H.R. 5650, the Protecting Women’s Access to Health Care Act, which prevents lawmakers from blocking Title X family planning funds to Planned Parenthood because some of its clinics provide abortions.

"Specifically, this legislation says that when it comes to participation in the Title X program, health care providers such as hospitals and health care clinics, including Planned Parenthood, cannot be discriminated against and excluded simply because they choose to offer additional services, separate from Title X," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Eight state legislatures have voted to defund Planned Parenthood over the past several years in order to prevent so-called "taxpayer-funded abortions," and the House voted to block Title X money to Planned Parenthood last year. Even though the Hyde Amendment prevents the government from using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions, Republican lawmakers often use the argument that awarding Title X or Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings, STD testing and birth control could free up other money that it will use for abortion services.

Dold said his plan is to "bring both sides together" in support of Planned Parenthood and to educate people about the importance of the Title X program, which provides family planning and related preventive health services to about five million low-income Americans each year. But this is sure to be a daunting task, as the GOP has been fairly vocal and united in its criticism of Planned Parenthood. Mitt Romney, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, said earlier this year that he would "get rid of" Planned Parenthood funding to balance the budget, and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) launched a Congressional investigation into the family planning provider after an anti-abortion activist group accused it of misusing federal funds.

Stearns scoffed at Dold's bill in an interview with Politico.

“I wonder how many Republican co-sponsors he’ll get,” he said. “I don’t understand why a bill is needed -- there’s no discrimination against Planned Parenthood. We’re getting financial records, the cases that we’ve seen where they’ve committed Medicaid fraud, we need to know why this is occurring and why they are getting government money.”

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Comments

[c0astalgreens]

03:24 PM on 05/30/2012

Before anyone aborts a human species inside her womb, please consider this possibility which comes from my belief, guided by the enlightenment I believd\e came from Holy Spirit, as follows:

If your deceased dad, mom, child, grands, loveones are atheists or agnostics, their souls could be given another chance to be born again to save their souls if they asked GOD for the chance again. In other words, thier souls could end up entering the fetus inside your womb that you are planning to abort where you could be aborting your own family or loveones, thus curtailing their chance for salvation.

Also, when you die, if your soul is given another chance, your soul could end up in your daughters' womb whom you had been teaching that there is no GOD to worry. So it is better to promote prolife and offer children about faith in a loving GOD so to encourage your children not to abort their future children if they may have any, to prevent the painful scenario of abortion that can happen to your soul inside a fetus after you die.

[Karen Bullock]

12:55 AM on 05/14/2012

Why so many cynical comments on this man's actions? Just stating that he would protect PP, whatever his motivation, is impressive considering he's GOP. It's a fantastic step! If the key to GOP support for women's health is as simple as having people in their distric supportive of PP, then that is an amazing in! It's an opportunity. It's possible.

[Ellen Gill]

11:54 AM on 05/12/2012

Oh, puleeze. Bob Dold did not stick his neck out for anyone but himself. His district has a very strong Planned Parenthood vote. Mark Kirk, the former Rep for the district, always got the Planned Parenthood endorsement (although he probably made them regret it eventually). There is no risk that this bill will pass and it will likely never see the light of day out of a Republican controlled House. If the Democrats take power, they won't need Dold's little intentionally doomed bill.

[lishcullen]

11:07 PM on 05/11/2012

I think it's absolutely amazing what he's doing, and I wish there were more Republicans on board for women's rights (including Rights to Privacy).

[Its me 2001]

08:22 AM on 05/11/2012

Wow a republican I don't hate....hope this trend of more moderate republicans catches on!

[BrunoBehrend]

02:54 PM on 07/07/2012

Your hatred is more of a problem than any Republican, so it's nice to see you being honest about it (hatred).

Thought there are many on my side of the aisle who suffer the same "derangement syndrome," the hatred of those we disagree with on political issues is evidence of our declining character.

As someone who is against abortion, and who believes that women's health can be funded without dollars going to abortion mills, I don't hate people who are pro-choice, nor do I hate a congressman for being misguided.

If you hate me for my views expressed above, it is evidence of moral weakness and low character on your part.

It's that simple.

[totallynext]

01:17 PM on 05/10/2012

What a bunch of crap....Medicaid fraud... seriously?

Stearns scoffed at Dold's bill in an interview with Politico.
“I wonder how many Republican co-sponsors he’ll get,” he said. “I don’t understand why a bill is needed -- there’s no discrimination against Planned Parenthood. We’re getting financial records, the cases that we’ve seen where they’ve committed Medicaid fraud, we need to know why this is occurring and why they are getting government money.”

[jalapenolady45]

12:30 PM on 05/10/2012

Planned Parenthood is not a right or left issue its an individual and personal issue, It is womens health period.

[Susanna Brennan]

12:28 PM on 05/10/2012

PP was the only healthcare I could afford when I was young and uninsured. They saved my life by diagnosing early cervical cancer. Regardless of his motivation, I applaud Rep. Dold. If only he weren't alone on his side of the aisle.

[Jessica Ham]

07:42 PM on 05/12/2012

Me too! They still help me since I can't afford ANY of the OB/GYN offices in my town. Fortunately PP is only an hour away. They are always so friendly and nice and NEVER pushy about anything like Conservatives keep saying. I've never had a bad experience with them and they always genuinely seem to want to help and do. Shame shame shame on people for denying low-income women access to reproductive health services.

[yournext865]

10:42 AM on 05/10/2012

I'm glad he has stood up to the religious right on this issue. People respect politicians who stand up for what they believe in even if it may cost them votes.

[Tracy Duvall]

09:54 AM on 05/10/2012

Thank You Bob Dold

[mamala4]

08:26 AM on 05/10/2012

This piece in Politico is headlined "Republican Rep. tries to save Planned Parenthood," but it could just as well be titled, "Republican Rep. tries to save self." GOP freshman Bob Dold!, redistricted into a seat that went for Barack Obama by a 63-36 margin, is going against type in an attempt to hang on, introducing a go-nowhere bill called the "Protecting Women's Access to Health Care Act." It's disappointing to see that representatives from Planned Parenthood participated in Dold's press conference, since he's utterly powerless and the only way to actually protect Planned Parenthood is to help Democrats retake the House.

[TheGreatRenewal]

01:48 AM on 05/10/2012

Thank you for standing up to sanity. Our founding fathers didn't want our governance to be run by or manipulated by any church so the christian shariah morality that opposes my right to choose when and if I get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy must be stopped.

[BrunoBehrend]

03:01 PM on 07/07/2012

As opposed to Liberal Sharia Morality of Obamacare forcing institutions to go against their beliefs?

One person's Sharia is another's destruction. The idea that Christians are less tolerant than San Francisco liberals is risible.

Abortion is, and will be a political issue. Deal with it.

[4spdstick]

12:18 AM on 05/10/2012

could be the republican ban on common sense is losing it's grip?

[synergie]

01:26 AM on 05/10/2012

No, he's the lone wolf on this one, look for the carnage to begin.

[Bufford P Tusser]

11:53 PM on 05/09/2012

A singular question if you would be so kind, Mr. Dold.

Why aren't you a Dem if you give a sheeeet?

[james in denver]

11:44 PM on 05/09/2012

Fact is?

I would vote for this guy over Mitt or Obama.....

He'll never get a chance though,

[4spdstick]

12:18 AM on 05/10/2012

circular firing squad will assemble at sunrise

[Zloki]

04:26 AM on 05/10/2012

Hope he's smart enough to duck and hope they shoot each other! ;)