US Senate lets states defund 'abortion' clinics

US Senate Republicans, aided by Vice President Mike Pence, voted to undo a rule preventing states from blocking funding for family planning clinics that also provide abortions, a media report said.

Thursday's vote was one of a string of showdowns to reverse Obama's administration regulations, but this one unfolded with all the drama of numerous past conflicts over abortion funding — with Pence casting the tie-breaking vote in his role as President of the Senate, the New York Times reported.

"The Congress is sending a resolution to President (Donald) Trump ensuring that states are not forced to fund America's abortion giant, Planned Parenthood," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of a prominent anti-abortion group. Taking money away from Planned Parenthood, the bill's target, has been a longstanding goal of congressional Republicans.