On CNN this morning, Donald Trump suggested that he’s open to allowing Planned Parenthood to keep more than $500 million in taxpayer funding it receives every year. CNN’s Chris Cuomo repeated the dishonest Planned Parenthood talking point that only 3 percent of its “services” are abortions and that federal funding doesn’t directly pay for abortions. Trump suggested that he’s open to keeping government funding for the “good aspects” of Planned Parenthood:
CNN: So you would take a look at it before you’d defund it. That’s what’s being asked right now. Many in your party are doing the opposite. They’re saying defund it, and then look at it. You’re saying look at it first.
Trump: I would look at the good aspects of it. I’m sure they do some things properly and good and good for women. And I would look at that.
Trump: #PlannedParenthood is “abortion factory,” but would take a look at it before defunding http://t.co/oixQvbltcs http://t.co/PnO9knul9U
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 11, 2015
The recent bill to defund Planned Parenthood targeted more than $500 million the organization receives mostly through Medicaid and the Title X contraception program.* This taxpayer money does not directly pay for abortion but it may subsidize the salaries of abortionists and their staffs and help pay the rent and utilities at abortion facilities. The bill wouldn’t have cut funding at all; the money would be redirected to the thousands of community health centers and other clinics that do not perform abortions.
*The federal funding that actually covers elective abortions at Planned Parenthood comes from Obamacare.
