WASHINGTON - Maine's two U.S. senators were on the losing end of a fight in the Senate over federal funding for Planned Parenthood. The measure was part of the Budget Reconciliation Act, which also included a provision to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Sen. Susan Collins introduced an amendment to keep current funding for Planned Parenthood, which "would strike the provisions that would eliminate funding, including Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood."
Collins says eliminating funding would force clinics to close that are providing health care services to women across the country. Sen. Angus King supported the amendment but it lost by three votes.
King and Collins went on to oppose the underlying bill that would repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Senate passed the measure 52 to 47, but that is well short of the votes needed to override the promised veto by President Barack Obama.
