[caption id=”attachment_143328″ align=”aligncenter” width=”5501″]Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., center, with Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, left, and John Thune, R-S.D., speaks about Planned Parenthood on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
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NATIONAL JOURNAL — The Senate on Monday voted against advancing legislation ending federal funding of Planned Parenthood. The 53-46 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward.
Monday’s vote – largely understood as a messaging vote – is just the beginning of the fight, Republicans vow.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out,” said Sen. John Thune. “I think we’re going to start with this step and we’ll see where the next steps go.”
The legislation resulted from an effort led by Sen. Joni Ernst and backed by presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and several other members of the GOP. It would stop the flow of more than $500 million from the federal government to Planned Parenthood, but promised this money would still be used in support of women’s health.
The GOP movement to defund Planned Parenthood was recently reinvigorated by a series of viral videos allegedly depicting top officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue in a sting operation.
Read more at National Journal.
