Pro-life lawmakers have been trying very hard as of late to block basic reproductive rights for women. As we noted earlier, 19 House members sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi demanding that language in the House health care reform package prevent any federal funds from being used for abortions. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) took aim at a Health and Human Services appropriations bill last week, filing an amendment to effectively strip Planned Parenthood -- the nation's largest abortion provider -- of its Title X funding.
Thankfully, it was soundly defeated on Friday. (Illinois Republicans Judy Biggert and Mark Kirk crossed party lines to vote against (PDF) the provision, while Democratic Reps. Dan Lipinski and Jerry Costello supported it.) But before the crucial vote, Rep. Mike Quigley spoke out strongly on the House floor against the measure, pointing out that, contrary to the suggestion from Pence and others, Planned Parenthood and other providers are already legally prohibited from using the funds for abortion services. Instead, the organization uses the taxpayer dollars it receives for primary care, including breast exams, family planning, and screening for high blood pressure, cancer, STDs, and HIV. Watch it:
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