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Shaheen ‘sounds the alarm’ on Planned Parenthood funding

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By Paul Briand
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, on Monday held a press conference to “sound the alarm” that women’s health statewide and across the country is jeopardized if Congress defunds Planned Parenthood.

The senator said during a session with the media at the Planned Parenthood health center in Exeter that a possible shutdown of the government in October over the defunding issue threatens “to wreak havoc across the entire U.S. economy.” She cited the threat to the local economy of a shutdown of the White Mountain National Forest during the fall foliage tourist season.

According to Shaheen, 12,000 women in New Hampshire last year received health care services from Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

“For many, Planned Parenthood is the most affordable and most accessible way to get the care that they need,” said Shaheen.

“To shut down the government for any reason is irresponsible and it’s reckless,” she added. “But to do this in order to deny women access to health care services that they need is simply reprehensible.”

Here is her statement:

Jennifer Frizzell, vice President for public policy, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, joined Shaheen at the press conference and criticized Executive Councilor Chris Sununu, R-District 3, for leading the effort last month to deny state contract funding for Planned Parenthood clinics in the state. The Exeter health center cut back its hours to three days a week.

“The bills that Republicans in Congress are pushing forward are calloused attempts to insert politics into women’s health,” she said.

Here is Frizzell’s statement:

Asked about the purported videos of Planned Parenthood harvesting the tissue of aborted fetuses - in particular, comments by Republican presidential candidate Carly Fioirina - Shaheen said fact checkers “pointed out that her comments were not factually correct.”

“It was very clear to me that the desire of those videos was to edit them in a way to produce a public reaction and that’s very unfortunate,” added Shaheen.

Here are answers from both Shaheen and Frizzell:

Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, is running for re-election and is portraying herself in new television ads as a defender of women’s health.

She wrote last week to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, one of the presidential hopefuls. that she opposes risking a shutdown "given the challenges and threats we face at home and abroad".

Cruz wants Republicans to oppose financing the government unless Planned Parenthood's money is cut off, defending his effort during the debate by saying, "I'm proud to stand for life."

Ayotte asked Cruz: "What is your strategy to succeed in actually defunding Planned Parenthood?"

Ayotte might face opposition from Gov. Maggie Hassan, who has said she will make up her mind “sooner than later.”

If Hassan does run for the Senate, one candidate for governor might be Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany, who recently announced she won’t run for re-election to the Portsmouth City Council but did say she’d consider running for governor if Hassan runs for the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Shaheen was asked about her daughter and she replied, “It’s her decision,” but adding the family would support her. Asked if she had given any advice to Stefany about a possible run, the senator said, “What happens in the Shaheen family stays in the Shaheen family.”
 

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