Will Planned Parenthood Be Defunded in Separate Bill?

Ending federal tax dollars for Planned Parenthood is something an overwhelming majority of Republican House Members support.

But the major question at this point is whether cut-off of Planned Parenthood's tax dollars is contained through the new healthcare legislation designed to replace Obamacare or in a separate measure altogether.

At the White House on Tuesday afternoon, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price told Newsmax the administration — as supportive as it was getting Planned Parenthood off federal funding — would leave the details of how to do so to Congress.

"In terms of Planned Parenthood, we think it's important that the [Congress] work its will on this process," Price told us.

In an obvious reference to Planned Parenthood's providing of abortions, Price added "It's incredibly important that we not violate anybody's conscience. We want to protect the conscience provisions that exist."

He also went on to point out the new healthcare proposal backed by the House Republican leadership and endorsed by President Trump "would allow greater access for women to healthcare in greater numbers of facilities across this land. They have actually proposed more money for women's health care than currently exists. So, I think they are working their best to address that issue."

Before Price's briefing, freshman Rep. John Faso, R-N.Y., told Newsmax he felt defunding Planned Parenthood "should be treated separately because I don't see this as a health issue."

But, he noted, "A majority of my Republican colleagues in the House don't see it this way."

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.