Mike Pence, Chris Smith signal room to move on abortion
Pence and Smith have indicated some kind of compromise on an abortion rider is possible.
As Democrats criticize House Republicans for risking a government shutdown to pursue their social agenda, two of the House’s leading abortion foes are leaving some room for possible negotiation on a controversial measure to end all federal spending for Planned Parenthood.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), the leading pro-life voice in the House, told reporters today that he is keeping his powder dry on whether he could live with a compromise on the sticky issue of eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood.
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Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) also has been circumspect about prospects for his amendment that has moved to the center of the current funding battle. “The more that people learn about this….the more likely that we will succeed one day,” he said in an interview this week.
Pence strongly defended his initiative against Planned Parenthood, which the House approved 240 to 185 during the week-long spending debate in February. And he emphasized that he is not seeking to shut down all family-planning services.
Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, likewise, told POLITICO that he was not optimistic about the Pence amendment’s immediate prospects.
“The President is dogmatic, and he has made clear that he would rather shut down the government than limit abortion services….But the debate will continue. It’s an educational problem, and we are willing to take the time to discuss the issue.”Read more:
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