Susan Collins: ‘Makes Absolutely No Sense To Eliminate Federal Funding for Planned Parenthood’

‘There already are longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion’

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STEPHANOPOULOS: You also have concerns about Planned Parenthood. This bill would deny funding of Planned Parenthood for a year. I know you’re planning on introducing an amendment with Senator Murkowski that would restore the funding for Planned Parenthood.

If that amendment fails, will you oppose final passage?

COLLINS: Well, first, let me say that it makes absolutely no sense to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood. There already are longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion. So that’s not what this debate is about. And Planned Parenthood is an important provider of health care services, including family planning and cancer screenings for millions of Americans, particularly women.

And they should be allowed to choose the health provider that they want. That’s one of the issues that I care deeply about. But there are many others as well.

STEPHANOPOULOS: I understand...

COLLINS: I am optimistic we’ll prevail on that issue.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Even though you think you’ll prevail on the amendment, but if you don’t, I understand that you have other concerns with the bill as well. Is Planned Parenthood funding a bottom line for you? If this bill denies funding to Planned Parenthood, are you against it?

COLLINS: It is one of many factors and a very important one that I will consider in casting my vote. But I’m also very concerned about the Medicaid cuts, what it means to our most vulnerable citizens. And I’m very concerned about the cost of insurance premiums and deductibles, particularly for that very vulnerable group between the age of 50 and 64.

They are particularly at risk, based on my initial analysis. So I’m going to look at the whole bill before making a decision.

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