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Fact check: Did Sen. Kelly Ayotte vote six times to defund Planned Parenthood?

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October 13, 2016
By Paul Brennan

The race for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire is one of this year’s most competitive elections, according to an analysis by Ballotpedia. The state’s governor, Democrat Maggie Hassan, is challenging first-term incumbent Republican Kelly Ayotte.

Federal funding for Planned Parenthood is one of the issues dividing the two candidates. Hassan supports it, and in May she was endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political arm of the organization.[1] In a recent ad titled “Six Times,” Hassan criticizes Ayotte for voting six times in the Senate to defund Planned Parenthood. The ad cites six votes that Ayotte cast between 2011 and 2015.

Is Hassan correct? Did Ayotte vote six times to cut off federal funds to Planned Parenthood?

No. Ayotte does oppose federal funding for Planned Parenthood, but only two of the six votes cited in Hassan’s ad would, if enacted, have cut off federal funds to Planned Parenthood. Two other votes involved lifting a ban on funding for the organization included in a proposed piece of legislation, while a fifth vote was on a procedural motion and not actual legislation. A sixth vote was on a “concurrent resolution” that was an expression of congressional sentiment without the force of law.

Votes cited in "Six Votes" ad
Bill Summary Ayotte's vote Final Senate vote
H.R. 1[2] Provided funding for federal agencies through the end of fiscal year 2011. Section 4013 of the bill prohibited making available any funds appropriated by the act to Planned Parenthood or any of its affiliates. Yea[3] March 9, 2011
44-56
(Failed)
H. Con. Res. 36[4] A concurrent resolution that would have prohibited providing any federal funds appropriated for fiscal year 2011 to Planned Parenthood or its affiliates. Yea[5] April 14, 2011
58-42
(Failed)[6]
S. 1881[7] This was a cloture vote to overcome a threatened filibuster and allow a vote on S. 1881, a bill to prohibit any federal funding of Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. Yea[8] July 28, 2015
53-46
(Failed)[6]
H.R. 3762[9] This bill amended the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Affordable Care Act. Section 206 of the bill created a one year moratorium on providing any federal funds to any nonprofit community healthcare provider that provided abortions in cases where the patient is not the victim of rape or incest. Section 206 cites Planned Parenthood as an example of an organization that will be prohibited from receiving funds. Yea[10] December 3, 2015

52-47
(Passed)[11]

S. Amdt. 2876[12] This was a vote to table an amendment that would have removed the restriction on federal funding in section 206 of H.R. 3762. Yea[13] December 3, 2015
54-46
(Passed)
S. Amdt. 2885[14] This amendment would have removed the restriction on federal funding in section 206 of H.R. 3762. Nay[15] December 3, 2015
48-52
(Failed)

Background: government funding for Planned Parenthood

Government health care grants, contracts to provide services, and reimbursements for patient services constitute the largest sources of revenue for Planned Parenthood and its 57 affiliates (which operate 650 health centers nationwide).[16] According to its most recent annual report, Planned Parenthood received $553.7 million in state and federal government funds through its affiliates in fiscal year 2015. That represented 43 percent of the organization’s overall revenue.[17] The report does not break down that revenue according to government agency, or indicate what percentage of the funds came from the federal government or state governments.

Federal funds cannot be used to pay for abortion services provided by Planned Parenthood or any other medical facility. The Hyde amendment, first passed in 1976 and reauthorized every year since, prohibits federal funds from being spent on abortion services.[18]

Currently 17 states allow state government funds to pay for abortion services for Medicaid patients. New Hampshire is not one of those states.[18]

Planned Parenthood in New Hampshire

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is one of two healthcare organizations that currently has a contract with the state of New Hampshire to provide family planning and related health services.[19] The two-year contract with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services pays the organization $594,304.[20]

The candidates’ views

In a September 22, 2015, speech on the floor of the Senate, Ayotte explained her opposition to government funding for Planned Parenthood.

“ I also do not believe it is appropriate that taxpayer funds should be used to fund a private organization that performs hundreds of thousands of abortions each year and that engages in the horrific practices that were shown in these videos. That is why last month I joined a bipartisan majority of Senators in voting to redirect Federal funding from Planned Parenthood to community health centers that provide women’s health services, including mammograms, cancer screenings, and contraceptives. In New Hampshire there are more than 30 community health centers, compared to 5 Planned Parenthood clinics.[21][22][23] ”

For her part, Hassan responded to critics of the state’s decision to fund Planned Parenthood, telling NH 1 News, “That kind of funding and access to family planning and access to those very important family planning and preventive health services are critical to the economic security and vitality of our women and our families all across New Hampshire.”[24]

Conclusion

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat, is challenging first-term Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte. In a recent ad, Hassan, who supports government funding for Planned Parenthood, criticized Ayotte for voting six times to defund Planned Parenthood.

Sen. Ayotte does oppose government funding for Planned Parenthood. However, only two of the six votes cited in Hassan’s ad would, if enacted, have cut off federal funds to Planned Parenthood. Two other votes involved lifting a ban on funding for the organization included in a proposed piece of legislation, while a fifth vote was on a procedural motion and not actual legislation. A sixth vote was on a “concurrent resolution” that is an expression of congressional sentiment without the force of law.

See also


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Sources and Notes

  1. ↑ Planned Parenthood Action Fund, “Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorses Maggie Hassan for U.S. Senate,” May 12, 2016
  2. ↑ A revised version of the bill, without the ban on funding Planned Parenthood, was introduced in December 2012 and became “H.R.1 - Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013”. It was signed into law by President Obama on January 29, 2013. Congress.gov, “H.R.1-Disaster Relief Appropriation Act, 2013,” accessed October 11, 2016
  3. ↑ United States Senate, “U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 112th Congress - 1st Session, Vote 36,” March 9, 2011
  4. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.Con.Res.36 - Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473,” accessed October 11, 2016
  5. ↑ United States Senate, “U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 112th Congress - 1st Session, Vote 60,” April 14, 2011
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 This bill needed 60 votes to pass.
  7. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1881 - A bill to prohibit Federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America,” accessed October 11, 2016
  8. ↑ United States Senate, “U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 1st Session, Vote 262,” August 3, 2015
  9. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3762 - To provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 2002 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2016,” accessed October 11, 2016
  10. ↑ United States Senate, “U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 1st Session, Vote 329,” December 3, 2015
  11. ↑ This bill was vetoed by President Obama on January 8, 2016. The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, “Veto Message from the President -- H.R. 3762,” January 8, 2016
  12. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.2876 to S.Amdt.2874,” accessed October 11, 2016
  13. ↑ United States Senate, “U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 1st Session, Vote 311,” December 3, 2015
  14. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.2885 to S.Amdt.2874,” accessed October 11, 2016
  15. ↑ United States Senate, “U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 1st Session, Vote 314,” December 3, 2015
  16. ↑ Planned Parenthood, "Planned Parenthood at a Glance," accessed October 13, 2016
  17. ↑ Planned Parenthood, “Annual Report, 2014-2015,” accessed October 12, 2016
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Henry L. Kaiser Family Foundation, “The Hyde Amendment and Coverage for Abortion Services,” September 30, 2016
  19. ↑ The contract specifies Planned Parenthood of Northern New England will provide the following services: physical exams, breast and cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, contraception, infertility assessment, pregnancy testing, counseling and education.
  20. ↑ State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, “Requested Action,” June 15, 2016
  21. ↑ Congressional Record, “Proceedings and Debates of the 114th Congress, First Session,” September 22, 2015
  22. ↑ The videos mentioned in the speech purported to show inappropriate treatment of fetal tissue and organs by Planned Parenthood. The New York Times, “Video accuses Planned Parenthood of Crime,” July 15, 2015
  23. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  24. ↑ NH 1 News, “NH1 News Exclusive: Hassan criticizes Sununu, Ayotte, over Planned Parenthood,” June 30, 2016

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