Senate parliamentarian rules megabill can include provision that would 'defund' Planned Parenthood

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth McDonough on Monday ruled that the GOP's major funding bill can include a provision that would ultimately block Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood.

The Senate is currently conducting its vote-a-rama on the legislation, which allows senators to offer an unlimited number of amendments to the policy bill that they must proceed to vote on. 

McDonough determined that the language of the Planned Parenthood provision, which does not refer to the organization by name, does not violate the upper chamber's Byrd Rule and can therefore pass in a majority vote. The legislation blocks abortion providers from receiving Medicaid for other services.

The ruling comes after Senate Republicans updated the language to reduce the timing of the “defunding” from 10 years to one year, according to The Hill.

“Republicans just got the green light to proceed with their destructive effort to defund Planned Parenthood health centers across the country—a crushing blow to the millions of women across America who rely on Planned Parenthood clinics for basic reproductive care,” Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said in a statement.

“Republicans’ last-minute changes to shorten the timeline of this provision hardly matter—once health clinics lose funding and are forced to close their doors, they are unlikely to reopen again,” she added.

The ruling comes after McDonough axed other controversial measures from the megabill, including portions of the bill related to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reform. 

Senate Republicans are hoping to pass the bill through a process that allows them to dodge a 60-vote filibuster threshold.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.