Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
GOP Senator In Vulnerable Seat Vows: 'I Will Defend Planned Parenthood'
Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) said Monday during a combative town hall that he supports federal funding for Planned Parenthood.聽"I have no problems with federal funding for Planned Parenthood," Heller said when asked about his support for the health organization.聽The GOP senator was booed when he initially appeared to hedge his answer on whether or not he supports federal funding for Planned Parenthood. (Carney, 4/17)
Heller is a key swing vote on Planned Parenthood funding because the Senate vote margin is razor thin on the issue. His comments suggest he may be open to keeping federal funding. 鈥淭he question is whether federal funding should cover some of the activities that occur in Planned Parenthood,鈥 Heller said to boos from the crowd. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if we鈥檙e going to agree on everything here, but a lot of my constituents called my office and said they don鈥檛 want federal funding at Planned Parenthood to be used for鈥︹ he said, appearing to trail off. (Haberkorn, 4/17)
Meanwhile, in Ohio聽鈥
State Rep. Candice Keller, R-Middletown, posted an image comparing the Planned Parenthood logo to a swastika on her public page. Keller, who serves as executive director of the Community Pregnancy Center in聽Middletown, is unabashedly anti-abortion and opposes Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions along with other health care services. (Balmert, 4/17)