Fact Check: Mike Pence Said Defunding Planned Parenthood Was Most “Fiscally Responsible” Way to Address Issues Facing the Economy

Tonight, Mike Pence tried to tout his record on the economy. But in 2010, he claimed that “defunding” Planned Parenthood was his recommended way to fix the economy --- effectively recommending that more than a million low-income women and men be cut off from basic, lifesaving health care.

FACT: Pence said efforts to block patients from care at Planned Parenthood were the most “fiscally responsible” way to address issues facing the economy, ignoring the fact that his “defunding” legislation stops low-income patients from being able to seek care at Planned Parenthood health centers, leaving many with no other safety-net health care provider to turn to. [Politico, 10/4/10]

FACT: Mike Pence is obsessed with ending access to Planned Parenthood. He was the first member of Congress to try to “defund” Planned Parenthood.

Mike Pence told the crowd at this year’s Values Voter Summit: “The days of public funding for Planned Parenthood are over when the Trump-Pence administration arrives in Washington D.C.” [Video]

Politico called Pence’s determination to deny patients care at Planned Parenthood health centers a “one-man crusade” and wrote that “nobody hates Planned Parenthood quite as much as Mike Pence.” [Politico, 2/16/11]

Mike Pence was the first to introduce legislation aimed at “defunding” Planned Parenthood – back in 2007. [Vox, 7/26/16]

Pence was willing to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood funding: In 2011, Pence said on Morning Joe that “of course” he was willing to “hold up this entire budget over defunding Planned Parenthood.” [Crooks and Liars, 4/5/11]