“They do not have 60 votes to fund Planned Parenthood“, said Paul, who added that he believed recently released undercover videos from the pro-life group Center for Medical Progress were causing a national backlash against the abortion provider. By law, federal funding can not be allocated for abortions, but allocating money to Planned Parenthood for the provision of other medical services “frees up” funds to be re-allocated for abortion. If Republicans in Congress bothered to invite people to their hearings who weren’t dead-set on shuttering Planned Parenthood’s doors forever – maybe, perhaps, someone from the organization itself – they might figure that out.

In response to this, the Obama Administration has removed up to $370,000 from funding to Kansas’ Title X, which is a “family planning” grant.

Sarah Stoez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, responded to the accusations. Planned Parenthood defunding has emerged as a key demand by some conservatives in exchange for agreeing to a temporary extension of funding.

While lawmakers on both sides were impassioned in their questioning, the packed audience sat quietly through the hearing, many in pink T-shirts with the Planned Parenthood logo on the front. House Republicans also launched a website Wednesday to track their investigations into the group.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell embraces the fight to defund Planned Parenthood though he thinks it can’t be won by threatening to shut down the US government, a spokesman said Friday. “The goal is to stop these horrific practices of organizations selling baby parts“.

“Some people relied on us before they were uninsured prior to the Affordable Care Act”, admitted Lori Carpentier, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan. In the case of the Planned Parenthood undercover videos in the court of public opinion (as they taught me in law school), qui tacit consentire videtur: the media’s silence indicates their consent. The bill was introduced by Gov. Sam Brownback and passed through the Kansas Senate with a 28-10 vote and the Kansas House with an 86-30 vote. This has put Boehner in an awkward position. So Boehner would likely have to work with Democrats to pass any bill that alienates a big GOP faction like the Freedom Caucus.

“If we can’t make any changes to spending without shutting down the government, then we might as well fold up this circus tent and go home”, Lee said on KSL Newsradio’s “Doug Wright Show”.

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), a centrist, said Republicans will ultimately be forced to vote for a continuing resolution (CR) to appropriate funding for federal programs.