Planned Parenthood Backs Hillary Clinton in First-Ever Presidential Endorsement
Planned Parenthood announced its endorsement of Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
The endorsement is the first in the largest abortion provider's roughly 100-year-long existence.
In a statement released by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the group labeled Clinton the "best presidential candidate for reproductive rights, hands down."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Hillary Clinton holds the strongest record on reproductive rights of all presidential contenders in not just this election, but in American history. She doesn't just support women's health — she has been a proactive leader on expanding access to women's health care," stated PPFA.
"We live in an era where access to birth control, abortion, and services at Planned Parenthood are under unprecedented attack. With so much at stake, we can't afford to have a president who continues these attacks — or who won't stand strong and fight against them, no matter what."
Clinton has long been noted for her support of pro-choice positions. While in Congress she voted against proposed legislation like the partial birth abortion ban and a mandatory parental notification when a minor has an abortion.
In previous years Clinton had already received a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and a 0 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee.
Planned Parenthood's unprecedented endorsement comes not long after the U.S. House of Representatives sent a bill to President Barack Obama defunding the abortion provider.
In a largely party-line vote Wednesday, House lawmakers passed HR 3762, or the Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, by a vote of 240 to 181.
While Planned Parenthood is not directly mentioned in the bill's text, the organization loses funding under Section 206, titled "Federal Payments to States."
Under Section 206, a "prohibited entity" that cannot receive taxpayer funding includes those that perform abortions beyond the reasons of rape, incest or life threatening complication.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., explained in a weekly Republican address that HR 3762 was important as it shifted Planned Parenthood's federal funding to other healthcare centers.
"The point of healthcare is to preserve and protect life. That's why this bill stops taxpayer funding for abortion providers," stated Hartzler.
"This bill places a moratorium on taxpayer funding to abortion providers and redirects that money to community health centers. These health centers serve eight times more women patients than Planned Parenthood, and they provide much more comprehensive care."
For their part, the Clinton campaign has embraced the Planned Parenthood endorsement, posting on their site a page explaining "Why Planned Parenthood broke with tradition to endorse Hillary Clinton."
"Planned Parenthood knows that Hillary Clinton will protect and defend women's health care and reproductive rights," argued Logan Anderson of the campaign.
"Hillary has fought for women's health, rights, and opportunity throughout her career ... and she'll continue defending reproductive freedom as president."
