Murkowski, Brown, Collins Against Eliminating Title X

The three Republican senators are signalling that they will not vote to eliminate Title X funding.

Although the Republican dominated House has already made its move to eliminate Title X funding from the federal budget, Republicans in the senate are already signalling a willingness to break with their party should there be a vote.

Via UPI.com:

Scott Brown Tuesday became the second Republican in the U.S. Senate to criticize a GOP proposal that would cut funding for Planned Parenthood.

“I support family planning and health services for women,” Brown, R-Mass., said in a statement. “Given our severe budget problems, I don’t believe any area of the budget is completely immune from cuts. However, the proposal to eliminate all funding for family planning goes too far. As we continue with our budget negotiations, I hope we can find a compromise that is reasonable and appropriate.”

Brown joins Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in opposing a House GOP proposal to slash $300 million in federal grants and aid to Planned Parenthood, The Hill reported. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, also has criticized proposals that would cut funding for other family planning programs.

NARAL Pro-Choice America has already come out thanking Brown for his words:

“Today’s report that Senator Scott Brown has said he will oppose efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and other family-planning centers is a positive first step, and we look forward to seeing his name appear in the ‘no’ column when this vote comes to the Senate floor,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America and Andrea Miller, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, in a joint statement. “We also call on Senator Brown to stand up for the Commonwealth’s women and oppose other far-reaching and intrusive anti-choice policies as they move from the House to the Senate.”

The House plans to attempt to defund Planned Parenthood and hurt other family planning programs is believed to likely receive little traction in the Democratically held senate, but having a few Republicans also on record as opposing the idea will definitely make those who value reproductive health care breathe a little easier.