Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
The Senate on Monday turned back a Democratic effort to strip out language in the reconciliation bill that would effectively defund Planned Parenthood on a mostly party line vote of 51-49.
Why it matters: It means that Planned Parenthood and other large organizations that offer abortions would be shut out of federal Medicaid funding for one year.
Driving the news: Sen. Patty Murray offered the amendment to "strike the provision to defund Planned Parenthood," almost immediately after Democrats said the Senate parliamentarian ruled that a one-year funding ban could remain in the bill.
- Moderate GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted to adopt the amendment. Both support abortion rights.
- "The shock this will have on our health care system cannot be overstated," Murray said in a statement. "Once health clinics lose funding and are forced to close their doors, they are unlikely to reopen again."
- Republicans originally had language that would have blocked Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding for 10 years. The provision remained under review by the Senate parliamentarian over the weekend.
- The parliamentarian ruled Monday afternoon that a one-year ban wouldn't violate the Byrd Rule, according to Senate Democrats.
State of play: Excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid has been a long-time priority of conservatives and the anti-abortion movement.
- This funding prohibition goes beyond the Hyde Amendment, which already blocks federal funds from going towards most abortions and has become a feature of annual appropriations bills.
The big picture: A Supreme Court ruling issued last week opened the door for conservative-led states to exclude Planned Parenthood providers from their state Medicaid programs.
- Many patients use Planned Parenthoods for other reproductive care, such as treatments for sexually transmitted infections, cancer screening, birth control and mental health services.
