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 Congress adjourned for the weekend with an Oct. 1 government
shutdown deadline fast approaching and no clear plan from Republican
leaders for extending funding for federal agencies.
Many conservative Republicans had called for the stop-gap spending
measure to deny funding to Planned Parenthood, but others in the
party, aware of Democratic opposition, had said this would increase
the likelihood of a second government shutdown in two years.
House Speaker John Boehner, trying to release some steam from his
caucus, chose to delay consideration of a spending bill vote and put
the stand-alone defunding bill to a vote, along with a separate
measure aimed at banning abortions that involve live births.
Both measures passed easily, largely on party lines.
 Planned Parenthood faces allegations, which it denies, of improperly
selling fetal tissue from abortions. The non-profit group said
Internet videos that have inflamed anti-abortion sentiment among
Republicans "falsely" portray its participation in tissue donation
programs for medical research.
Several House Republicans said the two bills passed on Friday would
be blocked by Senate Democrats, and stronger action to stop Planned
Parenthood funding may be necessary.
"I think you still need to continue to look at the funding mechanism
as a potential vehicle to stop the murders," said Representative
Bill Flores of Texas, who heads a group of 172 House conservatives.
During debate of the two bills, Democratic Representative Carolyn
Maloney of New York said the legislation "attempts to criminalize
legal medical care and punish women by rolling back reproductive
choices."
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Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina said he was
concerned that anti-Planned Parenthood policy provisions in the
spending bill would prompt a shutdown without stopping the
practices.
And Representative Roger Williams of Texas said, "There are "people
like me who can’t find a way to vote for anything that funds Planned
Parenthood."
The White House again called on Republicans to enter budget talks to
ease automatic spending constraints, but said a short funding
extension was still needed.
"I would not envision a long extension of funding at current levels,
but rather enough time for Congress to finally convene the talks,
reach an agreement and implement it," White House Spokesman Josh
Earnest said.
(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Doina Chiacu)
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