Planned Parenthood launches national campaign to take on Trump, GOP

Planned Parenthood on Thursday launched a national effort aimed at pressuring the incoming Donald Trump administration and GOP to abandon efforts to “defund” the organization.

Planned Parenthood, which has long been opposed by conservatives because it provides abortions in addition to other women’s healthcare services, has planned nearly 300 events in 47 states that will include marches, rallies, letter-writing campaigns and other activities over the next few months. 

“The fight starts today,” said Kelley Robinson, deputy national organizing director for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

“People of color, people living in rural communities and people with low incomes, who already face systemic barriers in accessing health care, would be most impacted by these attacks. We won’t back down, we won’t be silenced, and we will not let these politicians attack our health and rights without a fight.”

{mosads}Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday that defunding the group will be included as part of a bill to repeal ObamaCare.

Ryan said cutting off federal funds to Planned Parenthood will be included in a “reconciliation” bill that also repeals the core of ObamaCare. The reconciliation process prevents Democrats from launching a filibuster against the measure, meaning Republicans won’t need 60 votes to win on defunding.

With an incoming Republican president and majorities in both chambers, the GOP has its best chance in years to successfully end federal funding for the organization. 

Planned Parenthood receives about $500 million in federal grants and Medicaid reimbursements. 

Trump has already said he would sign a bill defunding the organization, though he noted in the past it has done “very good work” for millions of women. 

But, he said at a press conference earlier this year, “we’re not going to allow and we’re not going to fund, as long as you have the abortion going on at Planned Parenthood. We understand that, and I’ve said it loud and clear.”

The organization cited an “outpouring” of support since the election, and claimed its health centers have seen a 900 percent increase in requests for appointments for birth control.

The campaign also notes that women’s healthcare could face further challenges if the GOP repeals the Affordable Care Act, which allowed 55 million women to receive birth control under their health insurance for free.