From one woman to another: Thank you Lisa Murkowski (re: Planned Parenthood)

[LynneSin]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51155.html
Lisa Murkowski backs Planned Parenthood

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has come out in opposition to the House’s attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, making her the first Republican senator to specifically support the beleaguered organization.

“I believe Planned Parenthood provides vital services to those in need and disagree with their funding cuts in the bill,” Murkowski wrote in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). “I ask you to consider these programs going forward to determine if there is room for allowing continued funding.”

<<<snip>>>

In an e-mail to a constituent, Murkowski expanded on her position, also taking shots at the House Republicans’ attempts to end Title X funding. “I do believe that Planned Parenthood provides vital services to those in need and disagree with its funding cuts contained in the H.R. 1 package,” she wrote in a Friday e-mail, obtained by POLITICO. “From 2002-2008, Planned Parenthood received $342 million in federal taxpayer money through Title X funding alone. With these funds, Planned Parenthood has provided women throughout the U.S. with important family planning and contraceptive services as well as screening for breast and cervical cancers for low-income women. I believe it is important that Title X organizations continue to receive funding. In Alaska, this includes five centers — two health department clinics, two Planned Parenthood clinics in Sitka and Soldotna and one independent clinic.”

[GoCubsGo]

1. I thank her, as well.

Is she still officially a republican, or is she now a Liebermann-style "Independent"?

[CTyankee]

2. Sounds like she "gets it" on at least one level. Joe L. did too but

unfortunately took his stand on the Iraq War which was the proximate cause for us Dems in CT throwing him out of our Party.

Of course, Planned Parenthood has venerable roots in CT. If it weren't for Estelle Griswold, the Executive Director of the PP clinic in New Haven, we may never have had the kind of SCOTUS decision establishing the use of birth control as a fundamental, constitutional right...Joe understood at least THAT...