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Rep. Grijalva to fight cuts to Planned Parenthood

Posted at 11:55 AM, Jul 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-06 22:16:15-04

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Democratic Tucson Congressman Raul Grijalva is promising to fight efforts to kill funding for Planned Parenthood.

 

The organization is a frequent target of conservatives--  who object to the fact that it provides abortions along with other women's health services.

 

Raul Grijalva came to the Tucson's Planned Parenthood office to promise he will fight to make sure Planned Parenthood does not lose Federal Funding in the Republican push to repeal Obamacare.

 

He says it's against the law to use Federal funds for abortions so Federal money to Planned Parenthood supports family planning, cancer screening and other important health care for women, especially low income women.  

       

Grijalva says members of Congress who listen to opposition from constituents will not remove money from Planned Parenthood and will back away from repealing Obamacare.

 

"...and force Congress, both sides to deal with some realities about doing some fixes to the Affordable Care Act, reforming some issues within it, particularly premium increases, revenue and in doing so I think it's a win for everybody.">

       

But some abortion opponents say even if Federal funds do not pay for abortions, supporting other Planned Parenthood operations free up other non-Federal money to terminate pregnancies.

       

Teresa Mangels, the executive director of Fatima Women's Center opposes abortion and says her organization offers health care without government aid.

 

“We help women with low income or no income and we help them with prenatal, ultrasound and pregnancy tests and we do it all through private donations."

       

Grijalva says Members of Congress dedicated to repealing Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood have been hearing a lot of opposition over their July 4th recess and that could affect what they do when they return to DC next week.