The White House on Thursday issued a veto threat for a short-term spending bill that would fund the government through Dec. 11 and cut off funding to Planned Parenthood for one year.
{mosads}The warning came ahead of a Senate procedural vote on the measure.
“The Administration strongly opposes Senate passage of the Senate amendment to H.J.Res. 61, making continuing appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2016, and for other purposes, which contains highly objectionable provisions that advance a narrow ideological agenda,” the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said.
Eliminating federal funding to Planned Parenthood would “limit access” to healthcare for women, men, families and “disproportionately” affect low-income people, the OMB said.
The White House said Congress should pass a full-year spending package for fiscal 2016 that excludes “ideological” policy provisions and lifts sequestration spending caps that will otherwise return in full force next week.
In the meantime, the administration has made clear that President Obama would sign a short-term spending bill as long as it continues to fund Planned Parenthood.
The Senate is set to take a procedural vote Thursday on the bill to defund the group. Senate Democrats will block that bill. After that, Senate GOP leaders are then expected to file a “clean” spending measure that continues Planned Parenthood funding.
House GOP leaders are set to meet Thursday to discuss their strategy and will meet with the rest of the House GOP conference on Friday morning.
Congress has four legislative days left before the funding deadline and prevent a government shutdown next Thursday.