Getty Boehner: Shutdown will hurt anti-abortion rights movement The speaker tries to quell an uproar.

Speaker John Boehner warned his Republican colleagues Wednesday morning that shutting down the government over Planned Parenthood could damage the cause of lawmakers who oppose abortion, according to multiple sources in the closed party gathering.

The private House Republican Conference meeting Wednesday morning was mostly focused on the pending Iran vote, but Boehner (R-Ohio) began what will be a weeks-long quest to quell a growing uproar over the government funding of Planned Parenthood, after several videos released over the summer have allegedly depicted agents of the group discussing fetal tissue sales.


House GOP leadership is eager to avoid a government shutdown, and is actively working to craft a plan that would keep government open past Sept. 30. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-Wash.) are holding a series of meetings with lawmakers this week to begin to chart a course forward.





There’s a split within GOP leadership over how to proceed. Some want to attach a provision denying Planned Parenthood money to a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep government funded through mid December. Others want to pass a standalone bill on Planned Parenthood, then separately approve a "clean" CR.

Boehner did not explicitly rule out a CR that defunds Planned Parenthood, but told lawmakers that shutting down the government would not stop the group from getting government funds. And defunding the organization would not necessarily end the kind of interactions depicted on the video. Boehner told the gathering that in addition to cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood, he wants to prevent the group from being able to “traffic in baby parts.” The speaker also called for allowing prosecution of doctors who kill babies who survive an abortion.

House Republicans expect a government-funding vote next week.

