In the fight against Zika.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/07/congress-deadlocked-zika-bill-planned-parenthood-measures-republicans-senate-democrats
Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine known for forging compromises across party lines, was more explicit in calling for the language restricting funds to a Planned Parenthood affiliate in Puerto Rico to be dropped from the bill.
“Given that a lot of women are going to decide to delay childbearing during this public health crisis, it does not make sense to exclude an organization like Planned Parenthood which is a source of family planning for so many,” she said.
“I view this as a public health crisis and one that we should act on.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated more than 2,700 cases of Zika in the continental US – putting the figures at more than double what they were when Congress skipped town in July without resolving the stalemate. There are at least 14,000 cases in US territories, with Puerto Rico the most heavily impacted by the virus.
By trying to defund Planned Parenthood there the Republicans showed they care more about pushing their right wing agenda than providing essential health care services targeted to people in a US territory who need them the most and who are currently most vulnerable to the virus.
Since the Zika rider has been getting attached to larger funding bills, like the one for the VA, it looks like they were trying to get sneaky cuts in there, too.
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