Local News

Actions

Senate nears OK of bill unraveling health care

Senate votes to end Planned Parenthood funding
Posted at 12:06 PM, Dec 03, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-03 15:06:26-05

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have overwhelmed Democrats in a vote to end Planned Parenthood's federal funding.

Thursday's vote comes as the Senate moves toward approval of a bill that would all but repeal the president's health care law.

The bill would also take away the federal dollars that Planned Parenthood receives. Democrats tried restoring those funds, but their effort was rejected on a near party-line vote of 54-46.

The House is expected to send the bill to President Barack Obama in the coming days. The White House has pledged that Obama will veto it.

Republicans lack the two-thirds House and Senate majorities needed to override a veto. That means the measure will achieve one thing: giving both parties political messaging they can use in next year's elections.