House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). (AP)
(CNSNews.com) – House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) would not say today whether the Republican-majority House will allow federal funding of Planned Parenthood in fiscal 2016, which starts on Oct. 1.
During his Capitol Hill press conference on Thursday, CNSNews.com asked Boehner: “By September 30, the House needs to pass a bill to fund HHS for fiscal year 2016. Will that law--whether it’s a stand-alone appropriations or a CR--fund Planned Parenthood?”
Boehner said: “Listen, the Planned Parenthood issue is under review of two of our committees.”
“Listen, I’ve seen these two videos,” Boehner continued. “They’re gruesome, and I think they’re awful,” in reference to two undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress that appear to show Planned Parenthood officials negotiating over the transfer of tissue and organs from aborted babies.
“That’s why the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee are doing an investigation,” said Boehner. “I expect we will have hearings, and the more we learn, the more it will educate our decisions in the future.”
A moment later during the press conference another reporter asked, “Are you going to use the appropriations process to gut Planned Parenthood?”
Boehner responded, “There is an investigation under way, and I expect there will be hearings. And as that process develops, we’ll make decisions based on -- based on the facts. But let’s get the facts first.”
According to its most recent financial report, for 2013-14, Planned Parenthood received $528.4 million in government funding (grants and reimbursements) in 2014. In fiscal 2013, the organization performed 327,653 abortions, the report said.
If Congress included language in the law funding HHS, or in a continuing resolution funding numerous government agencies, that prohibited federal funding from going to Planned Parenthood, the administration could not give federal funds to Planned Parenthood. Ultimately, Planned Parenthood cannot receive federal funding in fiscal 2016 unless the House of Representatives agrees to allow it.