As expected, House Republicans have passed a bill to defund Planned Parenthood for the next year.
The House used a nearly party-line 241-187 vote to clear the legislation, which stands little chance of enactment. Senate Democrats have enough votes to block it, and for good measure the White House has promised a veto. [...]
"In the face of these videos, with all the alternatives women have for health, why would you want to force your constituents to pay for something so evil?" said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
This one year gap in funding would presumably give congressional Republicans the space they need to finish concluding that Planned Parenthood is guilty of crimes to be determined. A one year gap in funding is necessary for them to conclude that they've concluded the organization should be defunded permanently.
Just because House Republicans have passed this bill does not necessarily mean a government shutdown has been averted. The government still has be funded and that would necessarily include funding for Planned Parenthood. Neither the Senate or the president will approve a bill that defunds the organization.
The opportunity to cast a symbolic vote against funding is not enough for a significant number of House Crazies. They want a shutdown.
Unless I'm mistaken, there are just 5 or 6 days of legislative session remaining before the government will shut down. Funding the government will more than likely require several days of unscheduled session.