Planned Parenthood News: Chief Defends Organization Against Republicans
In an emotional hearing on Capitol Hill, Planned Parenthood's chief had a heated conversation with House of Republicans on Tuesday as she tried to protect her organization from questions about the ethics and legality of the activities going on inside its clinics.
Cecile Richards insisted that the organization did not violate any laws amid several accusations after undercover videos surfaced this summer that showed Planned Parenthood executives in clinics seemingly open and nonchalant as they discussed the donation of fetal tissue to some researchers.
The hearing went on for more than five hours, with Richards noting that the videos released by anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress were misleading viewers since her organization is not receiving federal funds for most of the abortions done.
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According to the Los Angeles Times, conservative Republicans have looked down on the organization over the released videos that were collected for about two and a half years.
When the videos came out, some lawmakers have pushed for getting rid of the federal government instead of allowing for budgeting any money for the organization. Richards said the organization is using about $500 million a year in federal funds for fees that cover birth control, cancer screenings, and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
Federal law does not support the use of federal money for abortion and except when the mother's life is at stake, or if the pregnancy is a result of incest or rape, and according to Richards, just 1 percent of the Planned Parenthood clinics facilitate donations for fetal tissue research.
Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, chairman of the House of Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, spearheaded the hearing, wherein he recalled the painful days when his parents battled cancer. Chaffetz said Planned Parenthood reduced cancer screenings and breast exams and spent heavily on executive salaries, travel expenses, and "blowout" parties.
Meanwhile, Richards said "The latest smear campaign is based on efforts by our opponents to entrap our doctors and clinicians into breaking the law, and once again our opponents have failed," referring to the recent surveys that instead of taking down the organization, only further gained support from people.
