Editorial: Political grandstanding on Planned Parenthood

An effort by Senate Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood failed Monday evening when a procedural measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to proceed. Good. The bill, introduced in the wake of several undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing what the organization does with the tissue from aborted fetuses, was uncalled for, wrongheaded and a transparent case of partisan grandstanding.

The problem is, the measure could still be resurrected — possibly barnacled to some bigger, must-pass bill. And undoubtedly, more videos will show up online, from the anti-abortion group that made the others. So far, despite some casual and even irreverent remarks from Planned Parenthood officials in the videos — and some assertions from the filmmakers — they do not offer any credible evidence that Planned Parenthood profits by selling fetal tissue or does anything more than donate it for research purposes and then recoup its costs. That is not illegal or, for that matter, objectionable. Nor do the videos make a compelling case that Planned Parenthood is altering its abortion procedures to harvest more usable fetal tissue or organs.

Fetal tissue donation takes place at Planned Parenthood clinics in only three states and only with the consent of patients. The tissue is used by research groups to study medical conditions including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, brain tumors and spinal cord injuries. Neither the clinics nor the patients benefit financially.

The Senate measure was a rush to judgment based on cryptic undercover videos. Unsurprisingly, it was largely supported by senators who already opposed Planned Parenthood because it provides abortions.

In fact, the money that Planned Parenthood receives from the federal government may not be spent on abortions except in cases of incest, rape or danger to the life of the woman. Planned Parenthood received $528.4 million in U.S. government funds in 2013, mostly through the Medicaid program.

Planned Parenthood is one of the largest providers of reproductive healthcare to women in the United States, having treated 2.7 million patients in 2013, according to the organization. It provides a range of services — breast exams, cervical cancer screenings, HIV screening, birth control, well-woman exams — as well as abortions.

This bill was the latest maneuver in an ongoing political offensive against an organization that offers vital services to a huge, mostly lower-income population, simply because it provides safe, legal abortions.

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