[caption id=”attachment_87802″ align=”aligncenter” width=”4843″]AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
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The possibility of a government shutdown looms closer, with the issue of Planned Parenthood at the forefront. A shutdown may be avoided though. The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on two pro-life bills, including one which defunds the abortion provider.
H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015, is sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and would put a halt on taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood for one year.
The other bill, H.R. 3504, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, is sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) and would add criminal penalties to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.
The House Judiciary Committee recently heard the testimony of Gianna Jessen and Melissa Ohden, who were born alive from their late-term abortions in the 1970’s.
Other Congressional investigations of Planned Parenthood are to take place, with the House Energy & Commerce Committee holding a hearing tomorrow afternoon.
As for the Senate, the Hill reported that some high-ranking members are considering reconciliation as a “potential option.” The rare process can only be used once a year. It would allow certain bills to require only a majority vote, rather than 60 votes, to make it to the president.
Congress must fund the government by Oct. 1 to avoid a shutdown.
