Here are some of the issues that will be discussed on today’s edition of The Chad Hasty Show.

Mark Wilson, Getty Images
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
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Will They Stand for Life?

As POLITICO reported yesterday, Republican leadership is doing all they can to avoid a government shutdown. At issue this time is the tax-payer funding of Planned Parenthood and the abortions that Planned Parenthood performs.

Congress returns from its long summer vacation Tuesday to an all-out, three-week sprint to avert a government shutdown – and no apparent plan yet to quell the conservative rebellion over Planned Parenthood that has dramatically increased the odds of a closure.

The mad dash – just 10 legislative work days to solve the shutdown crisis, in between major votes on the Iran nuclear deal and the first-ever papal address to a joint session of Congress – presents a major test for Republican leaders in both chambers who vowed to end crisis-driven legislating.

The smart money is on Congress doing what it typically does when it’s up against a deadline: Find a short-term fix and delay the fight for later. But the dynamics are so fluid and passions high that no one truly knows how it will wind up on Sept. 30, the final day of the fiscal year and last day to extend funding or have the government close its doors.
Yet to be answered is how far Ted Cruz and other Republicans -- powered by conservative outrage over Planned Parenthood -- are willing to push Congress to the brink of a shutdown in order to defund the women’s health organization.

Cruz, one of a handful of senators vying for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, gave a preview of his strategy with a letter he began circulating last week. In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Cruz called on Senate leaders to stop any bill – including one that funds the government -- that sets aside any federal dollars for Planned Parenthood.

“The American people should no longer be forced to fund the abortion industry,” the letter, which Cruz’s aides are still circulating for signatures, reads. “Therefore we will oppose any government funding legislation that would authorize or provide federal funds for Planned Parenthood.”

While many Republican voters are hoping that Republican leaders will fight against tax-payer money heading to Planned Parenthood, I don't see it happening. Neither does Erick Erickson.

For decades, the GOP and Pro-Life groups have been pouring in money from people who want to stop the killing of innocent children.

Now we have videos of Planned Parenthood pulling whole children from freezers. We have videos of Planned Parenthood cutting open the head of a little boy while his heart is beating to extract his brain. We have videos of Planned Parenthood haggling over prices.

So now a large portion of the Pro-Life Movement™ and Republican Leadership are going to scramble to tell you that defunding Planned Parenthood will accomplish nothing and a government shutdown will do nothing.

Already, they are making the case that shutting down the government will not stop Planned Parenthood because Planned Parenthood gets money from mandatory spending, not discretionary spending. They have structured a system so they can take your money in the name of saving babies while doing nothing to stop it.

It is also utter crap.

Hey GOP leaders and those in media, want to know why outsiders like Donald Trump and Ben Carson are leading the Republican primary? It's because voters are tired of elected officials who campaign on issues such as pro-life, but cave when they get to D.C.

I say the fight over public funding of Planned Parenthood is a good one to have and a good reason to "risk" a government shutdown. If life really is the most important issue for Republicans, prove it.

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These and many more topics coming up on today’s edition of The Chad Hasty Show. Tune in mornings 8:30-11am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App. All guest interviews can be heard on our KFYO YouTube page after the show and online at kfyo.com.

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