Seven House Republicans who broke from their party to support continued funding for Planned Parenthood are being lauded as heroes by the venerable family-planning organization—even as conservative activists are raising the specter of possible primary challenges if they continue to stray.
From Top to Bottom: Representatives Judy Biggert (IL), Robert Dold (IL), and Mary Bono Mack (CA). (Photos by AP Photo, 3; Getty Images, 1)
The defining vote was on the Pence Amendment, named after its sponsor, Republican Mike Pence of Indiana, which would cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood not only for family planning but for basic cancer screening and health care services for poor and low-income women. The seven dissenters are Robert Dold and Judy Biggert of Illinois, Richard Hanna of New York, Mary Bono Mack of California, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, and Charles Bass of New Hampshire.
They are not keen on advertising their stance, however; none would agree to interviews with The Daily Beast.
Only two freshmen are among the seven. One of them, Dold, surprised advocates on both sides of the debate when he not only cast his vote but rose to speak on the House floor in support of Planned Parenthood.
“The elimination of family planning dollars would deny access to preventative care for millions of women each year,” he said, citing conversations with his sister, an obstetrician/gynecologist, and other doctors about the importance of encouraging access to basic preventative care. Dold said 5 million individuals are seen each year through funding provided by Title X, created during the Nixon administration, and for every dollar invested in family planning approximately $3.74 is saved in Medicaid-related costs.
Dold, 41, is a pro-choice Republican representing the fiscally conservative and socially moderate northern suburbs of Chicago, the seat previously held by Mark Kirk, newly elected senator from Illinois.
The two women supporting Planned Parenthood, Biggert and Mack, are longtime backers of limited abortion rights. Mack, the only Republican woman in the California delegation, provided me with this statement: “The Pence Amendment cuts off federal funding to Planned Parenthood for all services—not just abortions. I believe that is a big mistake and represents a threat to the health of tens of thousands of American women. Breast cancer screenings, pelvic exams, HPV tests and scores of other vitally important health care services—services that save lives—would be unfairly impacted.”
