Chief defends Planned Parenthood before Congress

As Republicans in Congress kicked off another effort to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the organization’s president told lawmakers the firestorm of controversy is the result of fraudulent videos that distort the organization’s work and tissue donation practices.

Cecile Richards said her group is being targeted because of “de- ceptively edited videos released by a group that is dedicated to making abortion illegal.” The “outrageous accusations” based on those videos — that the organization profits from selling fetal tissue — are “offensive and categorically untrue.”

Republicans raised concerns about whether federal support to the group is wasted on excessive expenses or political activities.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R- Utah, said it appears the organization doesn’t need a federal subsidy. He said the group has its own revenue streams, and “Planned Parenthood is an organization with massive salaries.” The focus of the hearing, he said, is how the organization is funded and how it uses federal dollars. Chaffetz released data showing that government funding makes up 41% of the group’s revenue.

Congressional committees have investigated Planned Parenthood in the wake of videos released this summer suggesting officials in the group discussed selling fetal tissue from abortions.

Republicans have pushed several votes in the House and Senate to eliminate funding for the group in a short- term spending bill that would keep the government funded past Wednesday, but those measures have failed.

AP