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Democrats Vote to Filibuster Planned Parenthood Defunding Bill (Updated)

Manchin (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Manchin (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 6:33 p.m. | Planned Parenthood funding will continue despite outrage — mostly from Republicans — over videos showing officials discussing the sale of aborted body parts.  

Senate Democrats filibustered the bill to defund the group Monday, refusing to allow Republicans to bring it to the floor for debate. The 53-46 vote fell well short of the 60 needed to advance. Two Democrats — Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana — voted with the GOP to bring up the bill.  

Several Republican presidential candidates showed up to cast the vote, although the outcome wasn’t really in doubt. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., missed the vote due to his presidential campaigning.  

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also voted no to enable him to bring the bill back up for a revote.  

Even if a defunding bill had reached the 60-votes necessary in the Senate, the White House has said President Barack Obama would veto it, and the GOP isn’t close to the 67 votes needed for an override in the Senate.  

Republicans now have to decide whether to omit Planned Parenthood funding from a must-pass bill to keep the government open past Sept. 30. That would likely provoke another government shutdown, something GOP leaders have strenuously sought to avoid.

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