Rep. Steve King Wants To Fund The Border Wall With Planned Parenthood, Food Stamp Money
- 7 years ago
Republican Representative Steve King has suggested adding funding to President Trump’s proposed border wall by reducing federal spending on Planned Parenthood and food stamps.
Republican Representative Steve King has suggested adding funding to President Trump’s proposed border wall by reducing federal spending on Planned Parenthood and food stamps.
He made the comment during an interview on CNN’s 'New Day' Wednesday when host Alisyn Camerota asked him if he felt comfortable with the $1.6 billion the House has recently proposed spending for the project’s launch.
King responded by saying, “Absolutely, yes, and more. And I’d throw another $5 billion on the pile.”
The Iowa congressman added, “I would find half of a billion dollars of that right out of Planned Parenthood's budget. And the rest of it could come out of food stamps and the entitlements that are being spread out for people that haven't worked in three generations.”
He continued, “We've got to put America back to work, this administration will do it.”
Planned Parenthood has since responded by tweeting, “Ignorant and cruel: @RepSteveKingIA wants to pay for a wall by blocking Medicaid recipients from health care & making people go hungry.”
As a spokesperson explained to The Hill, King's comments don’t accurately reflect the way the group is funded, as it “receives federal funding the same way as every other hospital or community health care provider: through Medicaid reimbursements ”
Funding for Trump’s border wall, which has been estimated to cost between $15 billion to more than $21 billion, is expected to face opposition from Democrats; some Republicans have also expressed reservations about the project.
Republican Representative Steve King has suggested adding funding to President Trump’s proposed border wall by reducing federal spending on Planned Parenthood and food stamps.
He made the comment during an interview on CNN’s 'New Day' Wednesday when host Alisyn Camerota asked him if he felt comfortable with the $1.6 billion the House has recently proposed spending for the project’s launch.
King responded by saying, “Absolutely, yes, and more. And I’d throw another $5 billion on the pile.”
The Iowa congressman added, “I would find half of a billion dollars of that right out of Planned Parenthood's budget. And the rest of it could come out of food stamps and the entitlements that are being spread out for people that haven't worked in three generations.”
He continued, “We've got to put America back to work, this administration will do it.”
Planned Parenthood has since responded by tweeting, “Ignorant and cruel: @RepSteveKingIA wants to pay for a wall by blocking Medicaid recipients from health care & making people go hungry.”
As a spokesperson explained to The Hill, King's comments don’t accurately reflect the way the group is funded, as it “receives federal funding the same way as every other hospital or community health care provider: through Medicaid reimbursements ”
Funding for Trump’s border wall, which has been estimated to cost between $15 billion to more than $21 billion, is expected to face opposition from Democrats; some Republicans have also expressed reservations about the project.