By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Wednesday, July 30, a third video was released by abortion opponents about allegations of unethical, and possibly, illegal marketing of body parts from aborted fetuses.
Planned Parenthood went to a judge to get a restraining order to stop the release of more of these videos. A judge granted the request, but a fourth video was released apparently suggesting that some infants may have been aborted alive and then dispatched.
Members of Congress are asking than an independent counsel be appointed to investigate this and many other charges being thrown about by abortion opponents as the US Senate considers legislation, perhaps as early as Monday, August 3.
Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said in a statement, “The videos distributed by the Center or Medical Progress provide strong evidence that Planned Parenthood may have broken Federal law by selling fetal body parts for profit. If this is the case, the entities that purchased the fetal organs and tissue may have also violated Federal law. Consequently, the investigation goes beyond Planned Parenthood. We are calling for an independent counsel to ensure an impartial and thorough investigation is conducted.”
Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) said, “The third Planned Parenthood video was released today, and it is the most disturbing yet. Once again, it is clear that this organization is “pricing” aborted baby organs in a market-based way.”
US Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) wrote in a statement, “I’m proud to join the efforts in the Senate to ?#?DefundPlannedParenthood by cosponsoring S1881 today. This bill prohibits Federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of its affiliate organizations while protecting federal funding for health services for women.”
Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) said, “This morning yet another tragic video surfaced regarding Planned Parenthood’s “black market” harvesting and selling of human fetal tissue. These potentially criminal actions shock the conscience and demand answers. That’s why I joined more than 100 of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Justice calling for an immediate investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices.”
Rep. Roby said, “Momentum is building in the House to cut off Federal funding from this organization. I continue to work with my colleague Rep. Diane Black on her bill to do just that. At the same time, the Senate is reportedly taking up the effort too. They work a little differently than the House, and many times items like these are attached as amendments to other bills. These are votes we should pay close attention to. I encourage you to read about and watch the video, but seriously it is pretty grisly, so be warned.”
Rep. Palmer said that he and 55 of his Congressional colleagues called for an independent counsel; because during the 2007 United States Supreme Court case of Gonzales v. Carhart, Attorney General Lynch signed onto a brief supporting Planned Parenthood’s opposition to a partial birth abortion ban. Palmer wrote that because of this support, there is a justifiable public perception that she cannot conduct an impartial investigation of Planned Parenthood.
National Right to Life said in a statement that the US Senate will vote Monday, August 3, on a bill — strongly backed by National Right to Life — that would cut off all federal funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and all of its affiliates.
The bill, S1881 was introduced on July 28 by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), with numerous co-sponsors, including Sen. Shelby. It has the strong backing of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), who has vowed to force a US Senate vote on taking up the measure early during the week of August 3, 2015.
The legislative director for National Right to Life Douglas D. Johnson said, “Senator Ernst’s bill would push the snout of Planned Parenthood, a bloated abortion mega-marketer and a fetal organ trafficker, out of the US Treasury feeding trough…National Right to Life strongly supports this legislation.”
The bill states simply, “Notwithstanding, any other provision of law, no Federal funds may be made available to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, or to any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, or clinics.” The bill also contains language to provide that “all funds no longer available to Planned Parenthood will continue to be made available to other eligible entities to provide women’s health care services.” In other words, any funds removed from Planned Parenthood would be reallocated to women’s health services provided by others (but such funds cannot be used for elective abortions).
There were protests across the country including at least three in Alabama on Wednesday.
The New Media Coordinator for Students for Life of America Amanda Lord said in a statement, “Thank you for coming out yesterday to join your local ?#?WomenBetrayed Rally – as final reports are coming in it looks like we were in 65+ cities and over 12,000 strong! This is a huge victory! We are asking you to continue this momentum to defund Planned Parenthood by signing up now for the #WomenBetrayed Action Kit at www.WomenBetrayed.com. When you sign up you will be sent everything you need to get started defending women and children from abortion by ending taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood in your town! You will also get information to join a National Webcast on August 11th where you will receive training on researching the local dollars that go to Planned Parenthood, how to organize a community educational outreach, and information on how you can join in another nationwide event! Together we will see this abortion Goliath defunded and ultimately abolishing abortion in this lifetime!”
The group is also claiming that at least two babies, one in Houston and one in Pittsburgh were saved from Abortion by the rallies.
The President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Cecile Richards dismissed the organization’s critics as “extremists” last week in response to the videos. President Cecile wrote in the Washington Post, “Since our very beginning, our health centers, providers and patients have come under outrageous attacks, political and otherwise.” “The most recent attacks in this decades-long campaign represent a new low.”
Planned Parenthood, which is recognized as a charitable non-profit by the government receives $528 million from government to perform other services. It is the nation’s largest provider of abortions — about one-third of all abortions in the U.S. are performed at PPFA-affiliated facilities.
(Fox News, the National Catholic Register, and the Daily Caller contributed to this report.)
