Budget Vote a Crucial Test of House Mettle on Abortion Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2011
CONTACT: Kerry Brown at (703) 470-1926 or [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the U.S. House expected to vote tomorrow on a three-week Continuing Resolution (CR) that excludes an amendment defunding Planned Parenthood, Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) President Marjorie Dannenfelser urged House members to vote against the measure.  The Pence Amendment, overwhelmingly supported in the long-term CR bill that passed the House last month, would strip Planned Parenthood of all federal funding.

“If Congress can’t cut off taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood, a willing partner of the exploitation of women and young girls, how can it be serious about cutting spending anywhere else?” said Dannenfelser. “The time to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood is not next week, or in three weeks, or in a month, it’s now. Ending taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood in both short-term and long-term Continuing Resolution bills is a non-negotiable.”
On Friday, SBA List wrapped up its “Women Speak Out: Defund Planned Parenthood” bus tour calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood.  The tour spanned 13 districts across Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island and New Hampshire from Monday, March 7 to Thursday, March 10.  The issue has fired up Americans around the country, who are demanding that Congress take swift action.

“Taxpayers have strongly rejected their complicity with Planned Parenthood in the sex trafficking of underage girls,” said Dannenfelser.  “Americans have spoken and the time to defund Planned Parenthood, a habitual and unapologetic ally of those who deal in the exploitation of minors, is now.”

The tour is a part of a larger $200,000 grassroots campaign including radio and television ads thanking Members for their votes to defund Planned Parenthood.  The ad campaign launched on Tuesday, March 1, with a four-day $75,000 television ad airing throughout NY-25 and the Syracuse-area thanking Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25).  The same day, the SBA List commenced a series of one-week radio ads in the districts of Reps. Joe Walsh (IL-08), Randy Hultgren (IL-14), Frank Guinta (NH-01), Patrick Meehan (PA-07), Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)  and Allen West (FL-22) thanking them for their votes.
 
The Susan B. Anthony List spent $11 million during the 2010 midterm election cycle. Overall, the SBA List was involved in 90 races including 62 wins and 28 losses. Successes included: defeating 15 of 20 so-called “pro-life” Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care reform bill; increasing the number of pro-life women in the House by 70 percent; filling the void of pro-life women in the U.S. Senate and increasing the number of pro-life women governors from one to four.  

For further information, please contact Kerry Brown at (703) 470-1926 or [email protected].

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