Overnight Healthcare: Two GOP senators signal opposition to defunding Planned Parenthood

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) on Wednesday indicated he’ll oppose a bill backed by Republican leadership to defund Planned Parenthood.

Kirk is up for reelection next year and is a top Democratic target.

{mosads}”In other states tissue donation programs should be investigated but in Illinois there is no similar program,” Kirk said in a statement to The Hill. “I do not plan to cut access to basic health care and contraception for women, the majority of whom have no other resources.”

Kirk is the second Republican senator to indicate opposition to the bill.

“I’m still looking at the bill, but if it is an immediate defunding of Planned Parenthood before we have more facts in, then I would likely oppose the amendment,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters Wednesday.

Many Senate Republicans, though, have been touting the bill and pressuring Democrats to support it.

Three controversial undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials candidly discussing the price of fetal tissue for medical research have sparked outrage.

Backers are pointing out that the money would be redistributed to other organizations, so there would be no overall cut in funding for women’s health services. Read more here.

VOTE WILL COME MONDAY, NO. 2 GOP SENATOR SAYS: Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the Republican whip, suggested Wednesday that the Senate will take a vote on defunding Planned Parenthood on Monday.

“We’ll find out Monday night,” the Texas Republican told reporters on whether or not Republicans would be able to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural hurdle.

Cornyn spoke with reporters after a press conference with a handful of Senate Republicans who pressed for legislation rolled out Tuesday that would cut off federal money for Planned Parenthood and redirect the funding to other women’s health groups. Read more here.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ENTERS FALL BUDGET DEBATE: Eighteen House conservatives told GOP leaders Thursday that they will not support any measure to fund the government if it includes federal dollars for Planned Parenthood.

The letter was signed by members including Reps. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), John Fleming (R-La.) and Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) – some of Planned Parenthood’s biggest political foes.

Congress must fund the government by Oct. 1, and GOP leaders are pointing to a continuing resolution (CR) that would extend current funding.

The House will have to wait until after its August recess to address the issue; lawmakers are leaving Washington on Wednesday evening and won’t return to Capitol Hill until early September. Read more here.

Thursday’s schedule

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will speak at a D.C. rally marking Medicare’s 50th anniversary.

The White House will release a report called National HIV/AIDs Strategy.

State by state

Florida Gov. Rick Scott announces investigation into Planned Parenthood

Maryland to expand drug, mental health treatment outside of ERs

Anthem profit beats estimates as medical costs stay moderate 

What we’re reading

ObamaCare case to be turned against government in emissions rule

Ben Carson once squeamish on anti-abortion ad

New strategies deployed in abortion battle

What you might have missed from The Hill

Trump: Replace ObamaCare with ‘something terrific’

Schumer: GOP ‘wasting time‘ on Planned Parenthood vote

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