WASHINGTON–With a shutdown looming, Illinois Republicans Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. Mark Dold are on a conference call now–it started after 5 p.m. est–and each said Planned Parenthood should not be 100 percent defunded.
Said Kirk, “Democrats should give on spending proposals because we need more discipline and Republicans should give on the the extraneous policy riders so that government does not shut down,” a reference to the House GOP move to defund Planned Parenthood’s women health services.
A shut down could still be averted, Kirk said. “There is precious little distance between the President and the Speaker over spending,” Kirk said.
House and Senate Republicans, by the way have a split over the Planned Parenthood issue: it is being fueled mainly by House Republicans–not Senate Republicans–Kirk noted.
At issue regarding Planned Parenthood: Federal funds for family planning and health services for women, including cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood does not get federal funding for abortions–federal law, under the Hyde amendment–named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) has outlawed federal funding for abortion for years.
Kirk predicts no shutdown: “These things have a way of wrapping themselves up around 10, 11’o clock in the evening,” Kirk said.
