Politics

Nevada GOP Lawmakers Defend Federal Funding For Planned Parenthood

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GOP Nevada Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Mark Amodei defended federal funding for Planned Parenthood during a heated town hall Monday.

Heller, one of the most vulnerable GOP senators up for re-election in 2018, initially said he would “continue to look at this issue” when asked if he would defend the women’s health group, which was met with boos.

Following pushback from the crowd, he rolled back his statement, saying: “I will protect Planned Parenthood.”

While he said he would protect the organization, he noted he doesn’t agree with all of the services it provides.

“The issue isn’t whether or not they perform the funding and the care for women. I want to make sure that every women has an opportunity — my grandchildren, everybody — have an opportunity,” he said, according to USA Today. “The question of should federal funding cover some of the activities that occur in Planned Parenthood?”

Amodei said he’s in favor of federal dollars being provided to the Planned Parenthood in addition to other women’s health providers.

“I support funding for women’s health care with Planned Parenthood being one of the outlets — not the exclusive one — but one of the outlets,” he said.

The majority of congressional Republicans are fighting to defund Planned Parenthood due to its abortion services — particularly in the wake of leaked videos showing the organization profiting off the sales of fetal tissue. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order reversing a regulation banning states from withholding federal funds from abortion providers.

Cutting federal funds to the organization has been a key component in the House’s proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare.

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