Politics continue to play out around Planned Parenthood funding

As 41 senators vow to filibuster any spending bill that includes an amendment to delete this funding, an anti-abortion group touts the opposite position taken by possible GOP 2012 presidential candidates.

The Hill: 41 Senators Vow To Oppose Planned Parenthood Rider
Forty-one senators have pledged to filibuster any bipartisan spending bill that includes an amendment to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood, threatening an impasse with House conservatives. The group, led by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), includes thirty-nine Democratic senators and two Independents, Sens. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and Bernie Sanders (Vt.). The group outlined their opposition in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and GOP leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), asking Reid and McConnell to "stand with us against extreme proposals by some members of the House to eliminate support for women's health and family planning programs and providers that service millions of women and families" (Bolton, 4/4).

Politico: Anti-Abortion Group Touts 2012-ers On Planned Parenthood
Looking to show off its influence over the 2012 field early in the game, the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List sent out an email Monday putting each of the leading GOP presidential contenders on record in support of pulling federal funds for Planned Parenthood. Sarah Palin, Haley Barbour, Mike Huckabee and Tim Pawlenty each provided statements to the group, while the rest of the field was able to point to previous comments making their positions clear. Both Palin and Pawlenty alluded to the large federal deficit in arguing for why funds for Planned Parenthood should be stripped — as is proposed by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). "I join Rep. Mike Pence and others of conscience and common sense who are leading the charge to end the taxpayer funding of the nation's largest abortion provider," said Palin, who is close to SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser (Barr, 4/4).