Politico reports that Planned Parenthood, an organization that had been very critical of the compromises accepted by the Obama administration in the context of the health care debate, is much more confident that its interests will be protected in the context of the ongoing budget battle with budget-hawk conservatives. “‘We have a positive relationship with the Obama administration, and we applaud its strong commitment to reproductive health, family planning and preventive health care,’ Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of public policy and advocacy for Planned Parenthood, said in a statement to POLITICO.”
Conservatives intent on seeing cuts in all federally programs are sure to especially emphasize cuts to those programs to which they are ideologically opposed. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, which opposes abortion rights, said, “If Planned Parenthood doesn’t get cut, then what about the bigger web of entitlements?” Obama has responded by urging that ideological challenges to federal programs be reserved for bills independent of the budget process. “If Republicans are interested in social issues that they want to promote, they should put a bill on the floor of the House and promote it, have an up-or-down vote, send it over to the Senate. But don’t try to use the budget as a way to promote a political or ideological agenda.”
Photo Credit: Associated Press via Politico