Republicans are closer than ever to defunding Planned Parenthood. And if they pull the plug on the abortion giant, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., will deserve much of the credit.
While Ryan’s demonstrated flexibility on core principles, that post-election stretch hasn’t extended to his position on abortion. The speaker’s redoubled Republican defund efforts. If he succeeds, and the chances are good, Ryan will become the most pro-life speaker in history.
When pressed on the issue at a CNN town hall Thursday, Ryan didn’t flinch. Instead, the speaker laid out the case Republicans have been making for a decade. “We don’t want to commit taxpayer funding for abortion,” Ryan explained, “and Planned Parenthood is the largest provider.” Republicans want to redirect that $500 million toward federal health clinics instead.
Ryan wasn’t saying anything Republicans haven’t already proposed. For years the GOP tried to cut Planned Parenthood funding out of the federal budget. In total, they’ve launched three failed efforts in 2011, 2013, and 2016. The last attempt came the closest, landing a defund bill on the president’s desk last January. President Obama vetoed it.
After the last red November though, the GOP’s closer than ever to achieving its goal. For the first time since 2007, when a certain Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence first introduced the idea, the GOP has the parliamentary tactics down and the necessary personnel in place. Republicans just have to keep their nerve.
In budget reconciliation, the GOP has a silver legislative bullet to achieve their goal. They’ve already crafted a bill that at once repeals Obamacare while also stripping public funding from Planned Parenthood. As a reconciliation package, the legislation neutralizes the threat of a Democrat filibuster and requires only a simple majority to pass.
Only two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, haven’t committed to defunding Planned Parenthood. But even if they defect, creating a 50-50 Senate split, Vice President Pence would be more than happy to deliver the tie-breaking vote.
Though President-elect Trump has flip-flopped on abortion earlier, the incoming executive has remained consistent on the issue recently. In a bid to attract social conservatives, Trump signed onto the effort. “I am committed to defunding Planned Parenthood as long as they continue to perform abortions,” Trump told CBN’s David Brody in February.
Since the transition from candidate to president-elect, Trump’s team has worked to make that promise official policy. Two players to watch are the vice president and Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., the aspiring Office of Management and Budget Director. Pence first came up with the idea and Mulvaney helped sack former Speaker John Boehner after he surrendered to Obama on the issue. Both are completely dedicated.
After the inauguration, when Congress gets down to legislating, Republicans can finally achieve their long hoped for goal. Already, Ryan has done a great deal to regularly champion the issue and construct the necessary legislative framework. If successful, it’d be the most significant achievement of the speaker’s short year and a half career.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
