Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia voted to hear the case over whether documents from Planned Parenthood of Northern New England should be turned over to an anti-abortion group.
President Cecile Richards said accusations that the organization illegally profits from tissue provided to researchers have "nothing to do with our fetal tissue donation compliance process."
Republicans are pushing to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding. The organization's popularity has held steady, highlighting a risk for the GOP. But there's danger for Democrats, too.
President Obama signed the bill into law before the midnight deadline to keep the government running. The measure does not defund Planned Parenthood as House Republicans had threatened.
The congressional hearing was oftentimes contentious with the head of Planned Parenthood defending her organization and explaining that it does not receive federal money for most abortions.
Critics say research on fetal tissue is no longer needed to answer crucial medical questions. But National Institutes of Health officials and other scientists say alternatives don't yet measure up.
Senators agreed to limit debate on a measure to fund the government through Dec. 11 without stripping funding from Planned Parenthood. They're expected to approve the bill and send it to the House.
The deadline to fund government agencies is Sept. 30. Democrats blocked a vote on a bill to extend current funding because it would have deleted money for Planned Parenthood for a year.
There are rumblings that conservatives want John Boehner ousted as House speaker for what they see as a lack of fight. But GOP leaders look ready to turn the tables on the insurgents.
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt is asking Planned Parenthood entities in Nevada for details about how they conduct abortions.
Congress has until Sept. 30 to pass a measure to keep the government funded. If no agreement is reached, federal agencies could be shuttered again — the second time in three years.
Republicans say they want to examine Planned Parenthood's "horrific practices," after surreptitious video recordings showed officials discussing fetal tissue. The organization denies any wrongdoing.
"I know who Margaret Sanger is, and I know that she believed in eugenics, and that she was not particularly enamored with black people," candidate Ben Carson said of the organization's founder.
Some Republican candidates for president claim they have defunded Planned Parenthood in their states already. But the truth, others say, depends on how you define "defund."
The young anti-abortion activist who planned the recent sting videos on Planned Parenthood staff members has ties to larger group that oppose abortion.
Activists say the video of a Planned Parenthood official is evidence the group is selling parts from aborted fetuses, which is illegal. Planned Parenthood says tissue is donated for medical research.
And when the use of intrauterine devices and hormonal implants by young women goes up, the number of unplanned pregnancies sharply drops, researchers find.
