Pence casts tie-breaking vote to cut Planned Parenthood grants
Legislation would give states right to block federal family-planning grants to providers that perform abortions.
Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate Thursday to advance legislation that allows states to block federal family-planning funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
Republicans, who hold a 52-48 majority in the Senate, needed only a simple majority vote to advance the bill.
Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with the Democrats against the bill, according to Politico.
Pence, as president of the Senate, was called in to cast the decisive vote.
"On this vote the yeas are 50, the nays are 50," Pence said. "The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the motion to proceed is agreed to."
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The move allows states to restrict family planning grants to Planned Parenthood and other providers that perform abortions. Federal law already bars federal funding for abortions.
Republicans reportedly argued the measure upholds states' rights, and is not an attack on Planned Parenthood.
Assistant Minority Leader Patty Murray of Washington said after the vote that she and her Democratic colleagues have long made clear that the legislation is harmful and should not come to the floor.
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"Republicans didn't listen to us," she said. "(The) restriction of a woman's access to the full range of reproductive care is unacceptable. We are not going to give up."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
