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North Country Rep. Stefanik votes for fifth time to defund Planned Parenthood

Posted 1/8/16

North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Representatives, has voted for a fifth time for a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood in the …

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North Country Rep. Stefanik votes for fifth time to defund Planned Parenthood

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North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Representatives, has voted for a fifth time for a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood in the North Country and nationwide.

The bill, taken up by the House on Wednesday, cuts millions in funding from Planned Parenthood, a women’s health organization and family planning provider that has been under fire from Republicans in the House for its support of abortion.

Stefanik voted with the majority as the House voted 240 to 181 in approving the bill. The Senate has already approved it, so it goes now to President Barack Obama’s desk.

The bill also prevents Medicaid recipients from being reimbursed for their visits to Planned Parenthood clinics.

The measures were included in a House reconciliation bill that also contains language attempting to overthrow the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

The president has said he would veto any measure that would defund Planned Parenthood. Informed observers say the vote Wednesday would not be enough to overturn the veto by the president.

Planned Parenthood of the North Country conducted over 5,000 breast exams and 15,000 tests for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, and dispensed 668 doses of emergency contraception, according to their 2014 annual report.

The North Country Planned Parenthood clinics saw over 9,000 patients, and had more than 16,000 patient visits, with 62 percent of those patients between 18 and 29 years old. Fewer than two percent of visits were abortion-related.