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House Republicans worried about a political backlash on the left if they vote to defund Planned Parenthood may want to pay attention to their right.
Pro-life activists are turning up the heat on House Republicans over the budget reconciliation bill’s provision barring Medicaid funds for large abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood.
“Wobbly GOP members need to remember that we will not forget any act of betrayal that allows Planned Parenthood and all abortion vendors to continue to prop up their disreputable operations with our hard-earned tax money,” Kristi Hamrick, spokesperson for Students for Life of America, said in a Monday statement.
In a letter to members of Congress, she warned that their votes on the “big, beautiful bill” would be counted in the group’s annual legislative scorecard – and reminded lawmakers that the pro-life powerhouse can call on 225,000 activists in 50 states.
“We will score [the vote], and this is non-negotiable,” Ms. Hamrick said.
Virginia state Del. Nick Freitas, a Republican who hosts a conservative podcast, said he would make it his mission to defeat Republicans who stand in the way of defunding Planned Parenthood.
“If what you respond to is fear over losing your seat, then please, please understand: I will do whatever I possibly can with my platform to make sure you do lose it if you stand in the way or obstruct this in any way shape or form,” Mr. Freitas said during a Live Action forum. “Because I’m tired of it. I’m tired of cowards.”
The House Budget Committee passed the multi-trillion-dollar funding package late Sunday with the defunding provision intact, despite some swing-district House Republicans wanting the language struck.
The provision would prohibit Medicaid funds for nonprofit medical groups that provide elective abortions and receive more than $1 million in Medicaid payments for 10 years.
Planned Parenthood and its defenders warn that the measure would force clinics to close, leaving low-income patients with fewer health-care options, while pro-life groups argue that the nation’s 5,500 federally qualified health centers are more than capable of picking up the slack.
For Republicans, offending reliable pro-life voters may seem like less of a political risk than rekindling the pro-choice movement, which was credited with turning back the anticipated “red wave” in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
With Roe in the rear-view mirror, however, there are few priorities more important to the pro-lifers than cutting off Planned Parenthood’s access to federal funding, which represents about 39% of the abortion giant’s annual revenue.
And the timing may never be better. Not only do Republicans control the House, Senate and White House, but Planned Parenthood is facing stiff headwinds over its latest annual report, which showed its federal funding soar to $792 billion in 2023-24, a 13% increase over the previous year.
The report also showed that abortions rose while other medical services declined, including cancer screenings, Pap tests, treatments for sexually transmitted diseases, and contraceptive services.
Patient visits rose by 1% from the previous year, not enough to offset the 23% slide in clients since 2013, according to the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute analysis.
In February, Planned Parenthood suffered a reputational hit with a devastating article in the New York Times about poorly trained staff, inadequate facilities, and botched procedures.
Its clinics may be struggling, but Planned Parenthood Action is still a potent political force, spending $5.1 million in contributions and $10.5 million in outside spending in 2024 to elect Democrats and defeat Republicans, according to Open Secrets.
Planned Parenthood Action crowed over what it called the “Republican revolt” over defunding.
The group cited reports that several House Republicans – including Michael Lawler of New York and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania – have expressed opposition to the provision in private meetings with leadership.
The Washington Times has reached out to Mr. Lawler and Mr. Fitzpatrick for comment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he wants to bring the reconciliation bill to the floor Thursday. The next few days will be pivotal in deciding whether the defunding provision survives.
The Hyde Amendment bans federal funding from paying for abortions, with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the woman’s life, but allows abortion clinics to be reimbursed for non-abortion services.
The Trump administration paused $27.5 million in Title X family-planning grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates and other providers, but Live Action President Lila Rose said more needs to be done.
“We urge that Congress take action in the budget process to defund Planned Parenthood – they can do this through the budget reconciliation process – and we urge that President Trump do an additional executive order to declare that no federal money can go to abortion providers,” she said in a Monday statement.
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