Should Republicans Push to Defund Planned Parenthood Even if It Leads to a Government Shutdown? [POLL]

Congress is back in session this week and a battle over Planned Parenthood funding is on the horizon. Conservative lawmakers are pushing Republican leaders to defund Planned Parenthood even if it would lead to a government shutdown according to The Hill. In the past, GOP leadership has done all they could do to avoid shutdowns.

Ahead of the last government shutdown in 2013, 80 House Republicans had signed onto a letterpushing GOP leaders to defund ObamaCare.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been trying to lower expectations about trying to defund Planned Parenthood, saying last week that Republicans would have to wait for Obama’s successor in the White House.

“The president’s made it very clear he’s not going to sign any bill that includes defunding of Planned Parenthood, so that’s another issue that awaits a new president, hopefully with a different point of view about Planned Parenthood,” McConnell said on the Kentucky station WYMT’s “Issues and Answers.”

That argument is unlikely to sit well with conservatives eager for a confrontation.

“Establishment Rs say, "Wait till we have a GOP pres." If that happens, they'll say, "Wait till we have a filibuster-proof majority."#excuses,” Freedom Caucus member Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) wrote on Twitter.

And four GOP presidential contenders in the Senate — Ted Cruz (Texas), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) — have said Congress should defund Planned Parenthood, likely making life harder for McConnell this month. Graham has said he doesn’t support forcing a shutdown over the issue.

Cruz, for his part, plans to send a letter to McConnell urging him not to schedule a vote on legislation that continues to fund Planned Parenthood.

“In light of recent and horrific revelations that Planned Parenthood is trafficking in fetal tissue and body parts from abortions, we urge you not to schedule or facilitate the consideration of any legislation that authorizes or appropriates federal dollars for Planned Parenthood," a draft of Cruz’s letter reads.

What do you think Republicans should do? Let us know in today's KFYO Poll of the Day.