The U.S. Senate has voted 52-47 to repeal a key provision of the Affordable Care Act Thursday, thereby stripping federal funding for the reproductive health service Planned Parenthood.
Last week’s shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado has not deterred the Senate’s decision in moving forward with the controversial piece of legislation. The 100 members of Congress voted down party lines with only two moderate Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine and Mark Kirk of Illinois — joining Democrats in opposing the bill.
The bill will now head to the House of Representatives, which passed a similar version of the bill back in October, and then onto the President’s desk. White House officials said President Obama plans to veto the ruling.
Twitter couldn’t help but point out the irony in the Senate’s decision.
Planned Parenthood gets shot to hell by a gunman. Who does Congress blame? https://t.co/KxsFa1g4WE
— Matt Vetrano (@The_SuperDude92) December 3, 2015
Innocent people getting murdered at Planned Parenthoods and the Senate has decided the solution is to…….. Defund Planned Parenthood
— Kendra W (@kendrawcandraw) December 3, 2015
Gov’t defunds planned parenthood, but can’t do a thing about guns. Are we ready to stop paying taxes yet?
— Ṱṝⱥⱴ Ṧṫộṉề (@trav_stone) December 3, 2015
The big difference between Planned Parenthood and the religious right is that Planned Parenthood prevents abortions.
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) December 3, 2015
doing away with planned parenthood won’t stop abortions. it’s just gonna stop SAFE ones
— anyways… (@damonslacefront) December 3, 2015
I want to be mad about the Planned Parenthood decision but Obama will veto it and the Republicans won’t have the 2/3 they need to override😊😊
— ستا فا ني تيت (@StephoStaxx415) December 3, 2015
Democrats have said the 2010 Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare” has helped roughly 17.6 million Americans get medical coverage and has stopped insurance companies from refusing to insure patients with pre-existing conditions.
“Everybody knows (repeal) is a gesture in futility,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., before the vote. “Let’s move on from repeal and start making the Affordable Care Act work even better for the American people.”
Featured image: Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards (Flickr)
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