Planned Parenthood funding sparks passionate debate on House floor

The New York Times:  Planned Parenthood Financing Is Caught In Budget Feud
Almost unnoticed in the wars over the federal budget has been a pitched battle over money for Planned Parenthood, which provides contraception, medical services and abortions at 800 clinics around the country. ... At stake is more than $75 million that Planned Parenthood receives to provide family planning assistance to low-income women, money that its opponents say only frees up funds for abortions (Eckholm, 2/17).

The Washington Post:  House Debate On Defunding Planned Parenthood Stretches On For Nearly Three Hours
More than 30 House members, including members of leadership, spoke out on the measure, which was proposed by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) as an amendment to the resolution on funding the federal government through September. At issue is Planned Parenthood's receipt of federal funds through Title X, a $327 million program founded in 1970 that covers family planning and reproductive health. By law, Title X funds can be spent on family planning and contraception but not on abortion services (Sonmez, 2/18). 

The Hill: Dem Reveals Abortion In Planned Parenthood Funding Debate
The House chamber was silenced on Thursday night when California Rep. Jackie Speier (D) revealed that she had to have an abortion. ... Speier said she intended to speak to a different topic but was so upset by her GOP colleague Rep. Chris Smith's (N.J.) preceding five-minute speech during which he read graphic depictions from a book of a woman describing the experience of having an abortion. ... "I'm one of those women he spoke about just now. ... I lost the baby. And for you to stand on this floor and suggest that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought, is preposterous,"" Speier said, glaring at the Republicans on the other side of the aisle (Hooper, 2/18).

Politico:  Marathon Planned Parenthood Debate
The debate over defunding Planned Parenthood was fiery, emotional - and long. ... Most members stuck to the talking points. On the Democratic side: Every dollar spent on family planning saves taxpayers $4 on health care. The Hyde Amendment already assures no federal dollars are spent on abortions. The effort is a war on women. On the Republican side: The money is fungible. Keeping the lights on for an abortion provider is tantamount to funding abortions. ... Planned Parenthood just has to stop performing abortions, and then we won't oppose the funding (Webber, 2/18).