Planned Parenthood president knocks GOP plan to defund group

Planned Parenthood on Thursday slammed the GOP plan to defund the organization, arguing such a move would result in more unintended pregnancies. 

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) announced earlier in the day that defunding the organization would be included as part of a bill to repeal ObamaCare. 

“I think what they’re trying to do will, if anything, drive up the rate of unintended pregnancies in this country,” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said on CNN. 

{mosads}”What the Speaker is trying to do here … is end access to everything that would prevent unintended pregnancy.” 

Conservatives have tried for several years to defund Planned Parenthood because it provides abortions.

But because of federal law, the funding the organization receives doesn’t go toward abortions.

It instead goes toward other healthcare services for women, including access to birth control, STD testing and cancer screenings. 

But with control of both the White House and Congress, Republicans may have their best shot in years to defund the group.

Richards didn’t answer questions about how losing federal funds would impact Planned Parenthood, an organization that celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. 

“This has to do with denying women access to family planning and cancer screenings, who will no longer be able to come to the healthcare provider of their choice,” Richards said. 

“It’s not about the federal funding. It’s the fact that women on Medicaid … will no longer be able to come to us.”