‘If videos heavily edited, why did Planned Parenthood apologize?’

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards

WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, had a simple question for Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards in his opening statement at a congressional hearing into federal funding for the abortion provider Tuesday morning.

If the controversial undercover videos exposing the apparent dismemberment and selling of baby parts by her organization were heavily edited, why did she apologize for the videos just two days after they surfaced?

“Everyone knows these videos are, as the speaker of the House said, barbaric and repulsive,” Jordan added in the hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

It was more of a rhetorical question, as Richards would not get a chance to respond until directly questioned by Jordan.

The congressman then ridiculed the notion that Republicans want to shut down the federal government over defunding Planned Parenthood.

“We simply want to shift the money from an organization caught doing what they were caught doing … and give it to the 13,000 federally approved community health centers.”

He zeroed in on what he cited as the real problem: money and politics.

“Here’s how it works. Politicians give money to Planned Parenthood, who gives it back to politicians at election time,” the congressman said.

“Planned Parenthood spent almost $12 million in advertising in 2012 election cycle. One hundred percent of that went to Democrats. Every penny, every single penny went to Democrats. No wonder they are defending this repulsive game,” said Jordan.

Oversight committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, questioned how the abortion provider spent that money.

He said Planned Parenthood made $127 million in net profits in 2014 but reduced the number of cancer screening it performed by 54 percent from 2013-15.

“I don’t understand why,” Chaffetz said.

He noted the organization has “massive” salaries, with Richards making nearly $600,000 a year.

Travel expenses were $5 million in 2013, including first-class tickets and private jets.

He said Planned Parenthood spent $600,000 just on parties from 2012 to 2013.

And it spent $67 million on fundraising and $22 million on lobbying, which, he said, “has absolutely nothing to do with providing a breast exam for young women.”

“It’s a political organization, and that’s something that needs to be ferreted out.”

According to the committee, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, Planned Parenthood reported approximately $1.3 billion in total revenue, of which $528.4 million, or 41 percent, is attributed to “government health services grants and reimbursements.”

More to come …

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