The budget battle for now at least, is over. However, while Republicans had claimed the disagreement was a monetary issue, Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) minced no words when he announced that the final quarrel was over a rider that would block funding to Planned Parenthood.
Much of the controversy regarding Planned Parenthood had revolved around an amendment proposed by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN),a strong anti-abortionist who is seemingly on a crusade to drive a stake through the heart of Planned Parenthood. On the show, ‘Morning Joe,’ Pence declared that he would be willing to shut down the federal government if that’s what it would take to defund Planned Parenthood.
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) also took up the attack on Planned Parenthood in a speech on the Senate floor. “You don't have to go to Planned Parenthood to get your blood pressure or your cholesterol checked,” said Kyl. He then misleadingly stated, “if you want an abortion, you go to Planned Parenthood, and that's well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does."
According to Planned Parenthood, over 96 percent of the services they provided, included cancer screenings, contraception, pregnancy testing, STD testing, counseling and education for those who could not afford these services otherwise.
As for abortion funding, in 1976, the House of Representatives passed the Hyde Amendment; a legal provision that banned the use of federal funds allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services being used for abortions.
So what was it that almost shut down the government on April 8th? Reports on that evening indicated that both sides were in the same ballpark as far as dollars were concerned. Apparently, the shutdown would not have been about financials, but over ideology. (Continued below)
Republicans like Pence and Kyl, were recklessly willing to shut down the government while holding the country hostage because they are personally against birth control and a woman’s right to choose.
While hundreds of thousands government employees, national park workers and veterans’ service workers suffered through sleepless nights wondering if their pay would be halted, our elected officials had no such worries.
In a passage taken from Congress.org, 'several types of federal officials and employees, including members of Congress, the president, presidential appointees, and certain legislative branch employees are not subject to a furlough caused by a funding gap.' Under Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution, members of Congress shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.
In short, these elected officials who were willing to shut down the government, would have continued collecting their pay.
© 2011 Domenick Pilla
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