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Shaheen Takes Aim At GOP Over Planned Parenthood Funding, Potential Shutdown

Chris Jensen for NHPR

Planned Parenthood funding was a rallying cry during Saturday’s state Democratic convention and Jeanne Shaheen kept at an Exeter Planned Parenthood clinic.

“It’s very disappointing to see extremists using this issue as a political football at the expense of women’s health.”

Shaheen was referring to an effort spearheaded by Texas Senator Ted Cruz but opposed by New Hampshire’s Kelly Ayotte that could lead to a government shutdown late next month. GOP-led majorities in both houses of Congress want to  eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood , including Kelly Ayotte, but they don’t have the 60 votes needed to get a bill to the Senate floor,  let alone the 67 votes they’d need to override a promised veto from President Obama.

Ayotte sent a letter to Cruz last week making that same point. She is one several  Republicans up for reelection now being targeted in new Planned Parenthood-themed digital ads from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The battle over Planned Parenthood has intensified after an anti-abortion group released edited videos of Planned Parenthood staffers talking about the sale of fetal tissue and organs from abortions. Planned Parenthood doesn’t sell fetal tissue in NH, but the videos helped spur Republicans on the New Hampshire’s Executive Council to scuttle some of its state contracts.

The move that cuts its Planned Parenthood’s local public funding by a third.

Josh has worked at NHPR since 2000.
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