planned parenthoodWhen it comes to Planned Parenthood, Republicans are like a dog with a bone: They just can't drop it.

It wasn't enough for GOP leaders to try to strip the family planning organization of its federal funding earlier this year (and almost shut down the government in the process). Nor were they content with their attempts to unfairly smear the organization as being "willing to use public funds to commit a federal crime." Now, congressional Republicans -- led by Florida Representative Cliff Stearns -- are demanding Planned Parenthood turn over more than a decade's worth of documents for an investigation into whether the organization improperly spends public money on abortions.

These bullies won't stop until they shut the whole organization down.

Here's why this so-called "investigation" is baloney:

Planned Parenthood is audited regularly and publicly. Moreover, as Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) wrote in a letter criticizing Stearns' investigation stated, "These audits have not identified any pattern of misuse of federal funds, illegal activity, or other abuse that would justify a broad and invasive congressional investigation." So why would the government waste time and money on a completely baseless investigation?

In fact, the only "abuse" here is the one being committed by Stearns and his panel: misusing their power and position to harass and intimidate an organization they are ideologically opposed to under the guise of "fiscal responsibility." It's obvious this is a politically motivated probe intended to discredit and damage Planned Parenthood -- just like Republicans have been doing relentlessly for the last several years.

It's infuriating to think our lawmakers would be wasting time and energy on this -- and not more pressing matters like the economy or jobs creation -- especially when there's already a law that bars the organization from using tax money for abortion. At a time when so many people are hurting financially, why attack an organization that actually provides family planning and health services to low-income women and men?

For its part, Planned Parenthood has planned to hand over the documents Stearns demanded in a timely manner -- which suggests the organization has nothing to hide.

Are you pissed off yet? Then sign the open letter telling the GOP to stop its attack on Planned Parenthood.

 

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