House creates panel to investigate Planned Parenthood

The House voted Wednesday to create a special panel to investigate Planned Parenthood and its role in trafficking the tissue and organs of aborted babies, which came to light in a series of undercover videos released since July by the Center for Medical Progress.

The 242-184 vote was mostly along party lines, with two Democrats voting in favor (Dan Lipinski of Illinois and Collin Peterson of Minnesota) and one Republican (David Jolly of Florida) opposing the resolution.

Republicans say the committee is needed to examine whether Planned Parenthood is breaking laws and misusing taxpayer money, while Democrats call it a wasteful political exercise.

“Even if these abortion providers somehow manage to comply with all federal laws while dismembering children, it’s clear we need to learn more about their barbaric tactics,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who sponsored the measure.

Democrats compared the panel to one Republicans created last year to investigate the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans.

“Here we go again. Planned Parenthood is the new Benghazi,” said Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla.

The measure establishing the special House panel does not mention Planned Parenthood by name, but it says the committee should investigate “medical procedures and business practices used by entities involved in fetal tissue procurement.” It also authorizes the panel to look into “federal funding and support for abortion providers” and procedures in late-term abortions.

The committee’s chair, who Roll Call reports likely will be Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., will have the power to issue subpoenas.

The 13-member committee, which will under the oversight of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would be made up of eight Republicans, including the chairmanship, and five Democrats, but it’s unclear whether any Democrats would agree to participate in the panel’s work.

Drew Hammill, spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said he had no information on whether Democrats would take part in the investigation. Democrats previously considered not participating in the Benghazi investigation but ended up doing so.

Outgoing House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who will appoint the panel’s GOP members, recently suggested establishing such a special committee as way to stave off conservative members of the party who were willing to wage a government shutdown fight with President Barack Obama over their attempt to defund Planned Parenthood.

This battle could be revisited in mid-December, when last week’s short-term spending agreement runs out. Obama promises to veto any legislation that cuts Planned Parenthood’s federal funds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.