Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards testified at her first congressional hearing after an anti-abortion advocacy group released a series of videos exposing Planned Parenthood staff participating in the sale of aborted baby parts.
She was questioned over a range of issues including why she apologized after the release of first video, her half-a-million-dollar salary, the money she received from Planned Parenthood action fund, and why the organization is being reimbursed $35 as unit price for contraceptives by Medicaid when they are only paying about $3 for it.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) asked her to clarify why she personally apologized for the staff member Dr. Deborah Nucatola's statements in the video. In response, Richards said that the videos were heavily edited and she had apologized because "it was bad judgment to have a clinical discussion in a non-clinical setting." Chaffetz, apparently was not satisfied, and kept asking her to expound on her apology for Nucatola's "statements," which she claimed were heavily edited, interrupting her several times during her testimony.
Apologizing for Nucatola's statements, Richards had said in July, "Our top priority is the compassionate care that we provide. In the video, one of our staff members speaks in a way that does not reflect that compassion. This is unacceptable, and I personally apologize for the staff member's tone and statements."
However, during the hearing in Congress she backed Nucatola, saying that she is an excellent doctor, and that "she provides incredibly compassionate care."
Richards was also posed a question on her relationship with Action Fund, a nonpartisan advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood. She maintained that her political work and health care were legally and operationally separate. But Chaffetz said that she received $31,000 last year as a shared employee of the Action Fund for providing services to it.
She was also grilled about her salary, which rose sharply by $240,000 in 2013 from $353,000 in 2009, to which she responded that her salary was actually $520,000, and not $590,000.
Chaffetz also asked her if the organization has any "ownership in foreign companies," as Planned Parenthood was reported to have sent money overseas in the past. She replied, "I don't believe so."
Rep. Carol Maloney (D-NY) accused Chaffetz of holding discriminatory views against Richards for having a high salary because she is a woman, and said that he was, "beating up on a woman, our witness, for making a good salary ... I find it totally inappropriate and discriminatory."
"Make no mistake: Despite what we hear, Republicans are doubling down on their war against women. We need to recognize this fight for what it is - it's about banning a woman's right to choose," Maloney added.
Clarifying his stance, Chaffetz said, "That has absolutely nothing to do with providing health care to women.. It's a political activity."
According to Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va), Chaffetz practised "misogyny."
"My colleagues say there is no war on women," he said. "Look at how you've been treated, Ms. Richards."
But, Rep. John Duncan (R-Tn) asked Richards why women should be treated differently than men. "This is my 27th year in congress, and I can assure you I have seen many male witnesses treated much tougher than you have been treated here today... Surely you don't expect us to be easier on you because you are a woman." To this, Richards responded, "Absolutely not. That is not how my mother raised me."
Chaffetz presented a graph at the congressional session, showing declining number of breast exams, and increasing cases of abortions at Planned Parenthood.
"You created this slide. I have no idea what it is," Richards argued before her team member whispered in her ear. Then she said, "Excuse me, my lawyer is informing me that the source of this is actually Americans United for Life, which is an anti-abortion group.. So, I would check your source."
"Then we will get to the bottom of the truth of that," Chaffetz asserted.
Republicans released a report that showed that Planned Parenthood spends lavishly on parties and fundraisers, with themes such as 'Gathering of Goddesses and Gods,' 'Chocolate & Champagne,' and 'Murder Mystery'.
