Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), former President Trump’s running mate, on Sunday didn’t say where patients would go for health screenings, check-ups and more if Planned Parenthood is defunded.
During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, host Shannon Bream asked Vance where patients of Planned Parenthood would go for various health services, such as cancer screenings, birth control and other medication.
However, Vance focused on federal funding for abortion.
“What we said is we don’t want taxpayer funding for abortions, and that, of course, has been a bipartisan approach over 40 years in this country, until, frankly, Kamala Harris came along,” Vance replied.
The bulk of Planned Parenthood’s federal funding comes from Medicaid reimbursements.
Vance noted Sunday that while Planned Parenthood “does a lot of things that a lot of young women, a lot of young families need,” he stood firm that he “doesn’t believe in taxpayer funding for abortions.”
“That’s been the policy, not just to the Republican Party, by the way, but even a lot of Democrats who are pro-choice, who want right wide access to abortion, will say, ‘we don’t think taxpayers should be funding this stuff.’ And that, again, that bipartisan consensus is something President Trump very much supports,” Vance said.
Earlier this month, Vance suggested that a second Trump administration would again seek to defund Planned Parenthood if it continues to provide late-term abortions.
Vance’s remarks seemed to target late-term abortions, which generally refers to abortions carried out in the third term of pregnancy. However, such procedures are rare and almost always due to a medical emergency.
Additionally, under the Hyde Amendment, federal funds are prohibited from going towards abortion services, though exceptions are included for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.
Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes, last week said defunding Planned Parenthood would rob millions of people across the country of vital, affordable care,” and would impact non-abortion services, like “cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing and treatment, and many other essential reproductive health care services.”
