Senate GOP bill defunds Planned Parenthood for one year

The Senate healthcare bill, revealed Thursday, defunds Planned Parenthood for one year, despite concerns that the move would not meet budget rules.

The GOP bill follows the same language in the House-passed healthcare bill in blocking Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood, which provides women’s healthcare and abortion services.

Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski (Ala.) and Susan Collins (Maine), have already suggested they may not support the bill if it defunds Planned Parenthood.

{mosads}Collins said Wednesday if the bill included defunding language, she and Murkowski would introduce an amendment stripping it out.

The pair introduced a similar amendment for a repeal bill in 2015, but it wasn’t accepted.

Collins ultimately voted against the repeal bill while Murkowski voted for it.

President Trump has vowed to defund Planned Parenthood.

“If this is the Senate’s idea of a bill with heart, then the women of America should have fear struck in theirs,” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a statement.

“Slashing Medicaid and blocking millions of women from getting preventive care at Planned Parenthood is beyond heartless. One in five women in this country rely on Planned Parenthood for care. They will not stay silent as politicians vote to take away their care and their rights.”