Democrats have accused Republicans of inserting language targeting Planned Parenthood into the Zika funding legislation to bait them into blocking it. The measure would primarily withhold funding from two Planned Parenthood clinics in Puerto Rico that do not offer screening for the virus, but to Democrats, any limitation on Planned Parenthood sets a dangerous precedent that Republicans could exploit. Yet, in a demonstration of just how politicized Planned Parenthood has become, both sides have shown they are willing to wage war over it. “That was my first realization that they were willing to use the funding of Planned Parenthood as a hostage in just about anything,” she said. 2 Republican, said on Thursday that he was optimistic they could move forward to pass Zika funding.

Source: New York Times September 13, 2016 00:30 UTC