Pence breaks tie in Senate vote on Planned Parenthood funding (Politico)
Vice President Mike Pence and a GOP senator recovering from surgery were dramatically summoned to the Senate Thursday to advance legislation that would allow states to block federal family-planning funds to Planned Parenthood.
After the vote had been held open for more than an hour, Pence cast the tie-breaker shortly after Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) walked onto the Senate floor to vote. Isakson, who is recovering from back surgery, was using a walker inside the chamber.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, two GOP lawmakers who have long resisted efforts to bar federal funding for the women’s health organization, voted with Democrats against advancing the measure. The GOP holds a 52-48 majority in the Senate.