By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
US Representative Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) said that no taxpayer should be forced to fund Planned Parenthood.
Congresswoman Roby said in an email to constituents, “I have fought alongside other pro-life colleagues for years to prohibit federal funding from going to organizations that perform abortions, including Planned Parenthood.”
Rep. Robty quoted former President Thomas Jefferson: “To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”
Rep. Roby said, “I spoke in support of the Defunding Planned Parenthood Act today, and took direct aim at how abortion advocates try to hide behind the false pretense of women’s health. I was only recognized for a minute, but here’s what I had to say: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No taxpayer should be forced to fund an organization that aborts more than 350,000 unborn babies every year. This is a common sense truth that even pro-abortion activists have a hard time arguing. So, guess what? They change the argument. They pretend that abortion doesn’t exist and that Planned Parenthood is the only place where low-income women can get health care. Taking away taxpayer funding from Planned Parenthood means denying women health care, they say. That’s untrue, and anybody spreading that ought to be ashamed.”
Congresswoman Roby continued, “There are more than 13,000 Federal Qualified and Rural Health Centers throughout this country offering low-cost health care to women. They out number Planned Parenthood clinics 20-1. If this was REALLY about making sure women had access to health care, we could all agree right now to support these community health centers. But that’s not what this is about. Community Health Centers don’t do abortions – but Planned Parenthood does. THAT’S what this is about. It’s about preserving the pipeline of funding to the nation’s largest abortion provider. We all get it, so let’s drop this phony women’s health charade.”
President Obama remains committed to federal dollars flowing to Planned Parenthood. The President wrote in an email to supporters: “With Congress back in session, it’s time for the GOP to do some work. They’ve got to pass a budget by the end of this month — a budget with no strings or nonsense attached — or they’ll be shutting down the government for the second time in two years.”
Pres. Obama stated, “And let me be clear: A government shutdown would be completely irresponsible, but it’s not inevitable. Congress can pass a budget that invests in American families, in our schools, in our roads, in our military, and in all the things that truly make this country great. That’s a budget I’d be more than happy to sign. But instead of trying to find ways for us to move forward together, some folks are threatening to shut down the government because I won’t accept a budget that hurts the middle class or makes it harder for women to access health care services they need by defunding Planned Parenthood.”
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives John Boehner (R-Ohio) released a statement after the House took a step toward passing the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 HR3134 and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act HR3504.
“Over the past three months, Americans have watched with shock as the grisly practices embraced by the abortion business have been exposed. When an organization dismembers and monetizes babies, we must all act. And so tomorrow the House will vote to defund this organization as our committees continue their work to get the whole truth, and make crystal clear that if you kill an infant born alive, you will be prosecuted.”
Speaker Boehner continued, “While the House prepares to take much-needed action, President Obama continues to hope this crisis will go away. He still has not watched these horrific videos, and his administration flatly dismisses any need for investigation. Such blind support for the abortion business is totally indefensible.”
The Speaker concluded, “Tomorrow I hope my colleagues in Congress will ignore the White House’s absurd veto threats, listen to the American people, and do the right thing. No organization that illegally harvests baby parts should receive taxpayer funds. And babies that survive abortions should get the same care provided to those born prematurely. This is about basic decency, and respect for all life.”
Congresswoman Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
