The GOP has been on a hot streak lately. But now that momentum has come to a halt.
Because these rogue Republicans just stabbed their voters in the back with this latest action.
Centrist Republicans Resist Planned Parenthood Cuts in Trump’s Ambitious Legislative Package
A group of centrist Republican lawmakers is raising concerns about efforts to include provisions targeting Planned Parenthood’s funding in a comprehensive bill designed to kickstart President Trump’s second-term priorities.
The massive reconciliation package, often referred to as Trump’s “one, big beautiful” bill, aims to extend first-term tax cuts, bolster border security, and address the nation’s debt ceiling, but the inclusion of cuts to the reproductive healthcare provider has sparked division within the GOP.
According to a GOP aide familiar with House discussions, moderate Republicans are pushing back against language in the bill that would slash funding for Planned Parenthood, a longtime target of conservative policy efforts. The aide, speaking to the New York Post, noted that these members are wary of measures that could cut funds for the abortion provider.
During a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Representatives Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) were among those who voiced opposition to the proposed cuts, as reported by NOTUS on Wednesday.
“I think there’s other policy areas that we need to focus on,” Fitzpatrick told NOTUS before the meeting, signaling his intent to challenge the push for cuts to abortion providers. “We need simplicity in this bill,” he emphasized, advocating for a streamlined approach to the legislation.
Lawler echoed similar concerns, highlighting the range of non-abortion services Planned Parenthood provides. “Obviously, Planned Parenthood does provide a lot of services outside of abortion-related services,” he told NOTUS. I’m “not for taking away people’s health care,” he added.
Kiggans, while firmly opposed to federal funding for abortion, also expressed reservations about the proposed cuts. A spokesperson for the Virginia congresswoman told NOTUS that Kiggans “is proudly pro-life and firmly opposes any federal funding for abortion.”
However, the spokesperson clarified her stance on the reconciliation process: “[Kiggans] attended a closed-door policy discussion with House leadership and Republican colleagues focused on Medicaid reform within the broader reconciliation process. The Congresswoman supports thoughtful, targeted Medicaid reforms that strengthen the program, preserve its integrity, and ensure it serves those who it was originally intended to help.”
House Speaker Johnson, meanwhile, has sent mixed signals on the issue. During a speech at the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America gala last week, he vowed to target “big abortion” in the bill, stating:
“In the weeks ahead, the House is gonna be working on the one big, beautiful bill. We’re absolutely making it clear to everybody that this bill is going to redirect funds away from big abortion and to federally qualified health centers.”
Yet, when pressed on the inclusion of Planned Parenthood defunding, Johnson downplayed the issue, saying it “was not on our agenda.”
The debate over Planned Parenthood’s funding comes as House lawmakers grapple with offsetting the estimated $800 million to $1.5 trillion cost of Trump’s legislative priorities.
While the Hyde Amendment already prohibits direct taxpayer funding for abortions, some Republicans are eyeing indirect measures, such as limiting Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion services, to curb the organization’s financial resources.
As the GOP works to unify its caucus and meet the ambitious timeline for the reconciliation bill, the resistance from centrist members signals a potential hurdle in balancing conservative priorities with the priorities of moderate Republicans.
The coming weeks will reveal whether these moderates can steer the bill toward a more focused agenda or if the push to defund Planned Parenthood will prevail.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
