Update:
There was an unexpected appearance by a representative of Planned Parenthood Greater Texas and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast at Wednesday’s emergency hearing of the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Chairman Charles Schwertner called the general counsel for the agencies to the podium. Schwertner asked Deborah Hiser if she was going to testify and take questions from the committee.
Hiser refused to testify because both agencies are “under active investigation” by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Hiser was allowed to submit written testimony.
Click below to hear the exchange between Charles Schwertner and Deborah Hiser.
Original story:
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Planned Parenthood officials are not testifying before Texas lawmakers about covertly recorded videos that target the abortion provider, calling the emergency hearing “political gamesmanship.”
Conservatives on the Texas Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday scolded Planned Parenthood for their absence. Republican Chairman Charles Schwertner said the organization needs to answer for how it operates in Texas.
Texas is one of a number of GOP-controlled states that have launched investigations after the release of videos in which Planned Parenthood officials discuss how to harvest tissue for research from aborted fetuses.
Planned Parenthood says it has done nothing illegal or improper.
The hearing comes as Republicans in the U.S. Senate say the plan a vote to block federal funds to the women’s health provider.
Click below for a statement from Senator Charles Schwertner about the absence of representatives from Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast from the committee hearing:
