Yesterday Republicans in the United States Senate – thanks to a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence – voted to give states the authority to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood.

Today Connecticut Democrats are standing up and promising to defend Planned Parenthood funding from constant GOP attacks.

“For so many women, Planned Parenthood is their only resource for mammograms; clinical breast, pap, and pelvic exams; and other lifesaving health services,” said State Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport). “Generally, a visit to Planned Parenthood is the only time that women – especially young women –  may use any type of health screenings that may identify other reproductive health issues that could be treated at a preventative stage.”

“The Republicans’ vote in the United States Senate to deny funding for Planned Parenthood will put women’s lives at risk,” Sen. Moore continued. “Democrats in Connecticut will hold true to our values and fight back against this malicious assault on women’s health care.”

“The Republican-led assault on women’s health and Planned Parenthood will fail in Connecticut, if we have anything to say about it,” said Rep. Cathy Abercrombie (D-Meriden), the House chair of the legislature’s Human Services Committee. “Governor Malloy has already vowed to make sure that Connecticut makes up the difference in funding if Congress defunds Planned Parenthood, and I am also fighting to preserve critical funding for women’s health and welfare.”

Connecticut Democrats have a long history of supporting Planned Parenthood and women’s health services. Meanwhile, Connecticut Republicans have remained silent, refusing to stand up to President Trump or the congressional GOP majorities.

“On issue after issue – from stripping health care from 24 million people, to eliminating heating assistance for low-income Connecticut residents, to yet another attempt to dismantle women’s health services – Connecticut Republicans have failed to stand up for the people of this state,” said Connecticut Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Dita Bhargava. “State and local governments are the last line of defense against the Trump administration’s backwards agenda. That’s why we’re working so hard to elect Democrats — to defend Connecticut’s values.”

This is not just Democrats talking. Editorial boards agree that Connecticut Republicans need to grow a backbone and stand up to the Trump agenda.