Senate

Centrists push to take Planned Parenthood out of ObamaCare repeal bill

by Jordain Carney - 12/02/15 5:56 PM ET

Three Senate Republicans are seeking to remove a provision from an ObamaCare repeal bill that would strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood.

Centrist Republican Sens. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), who are both up for reelection, have filed an amendment with Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) that would remove the Planned Parenthood language from the reconciliation proposal now on the Senate floor.

{mosads}The amendment has only been filed and is not yet scheduled for a vote.

The three senators have voiced concerns over the decision to link Planned Parenthood funding to the ObamaCare repeal bill and have remained tightlipped about whether they would support the legislation during a final vote.

The section of the bill would block federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year and redirect the money to other community health centers.

Kirk previously voted against a stand-alone bill to cut federal money for the organization.

Republican leaders have expressed confidence that they would be able to get the 51 votes needed to clear the reconciliation bill through the Senate this week.

Asked about potentially losing moderate support, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said that leadership has been working to unify their members.

“We’ve been working very closely to try to come up with a consensus piece of legislation,” he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

Democrats have repeatedly slammed Republicans for trying to use the ObamaCare repeal bill to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood.

Separately, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have offered an amendment to remove the defunding language from the reconciliation package.

“Women’s health care should not be controversial, much less cause for violence, in the 21st century. Women and their families have had enough,” she said earlier Wednesday.

Even if senators aren’t able to get the defunding of Planned Parenthood removed from the legislation, President Obama is expected to veto the bill if it reaches his desk.

Tags John Cornyn Lisa Murkowski Mark Kirk Patty Murray Ron Wyden Susan Collins