The battle over the de-funding of Planned Parenthood, which has been escalating in Washington D.C. all summer, has hit a crescendo as Republicans in both chambers have brought it to the floor and Democrats have resisted. But as October 1 approaches and the government is poised to run out of money if a compromise is not reached, both sides seemed to be hardening their positions. Note: House Speaker John Boehner announced his resignation today – hours after vowing to bring a “clean” bill to the floor so, come October 1, the issue may be moot. Til then, however – or with future battles that may or may not occur (to paraphrase our dearly departed Yogi Berra, the uncertainties on the road ahead will most certainly create much ambiguity), let us heed ways to
While a vocal minority of Republicans – including embattled New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, are urging their more conservative colleagues not to hold Planned Parenthood hostage as the start of the new Fiscal Year approaches, hard-line conservatives, clearly in the majority of their caucus, are making clear that, in the words of the Revolutionary War’s John Paul Jones, “they have not yet begun to fight.” This may mean shutting down the government and with the President vowing to resist attempts, a government shut-down for the second-time in three fiscal years is quickly becoming a likelihood. In other words, if anyone has a common-sense solution on the horizon, now would seem like a fine time to unveil it. Enter Sidney Yates.
The Illinois Democrat left Congress in 1999 and died a year later at the age of 91. But a quarter-of-a-century ago, he was in the midst over another high-profile legislative battle. A shutdown was not in the equation – unlike today single issues weren’t held hostage by an ideological extreme and people’s well-being weren’t left in limbo. But it did garner immense public attention that generated headlines and debates for years to come.
The issue: funding the National Endowment For the Arts.
Artist Robert Mapplethorpe’s “The Perfect Moment” offended many by showing homo-erotic images. Another artist, Andres Serrano compiled a “Piss Christ” piece that, understandably, left citizens of all religions in disbelief. That led a number of Republican members of Congress, including Senator Jesse Helms and about 100 House members to propose cutting funding for the National Endowment For The Arts (NEA).
Yates was chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, the panel that had jurisdiction over funding the arts. Though an octogenarian who had first been elected to Congress when Harry Truman was winning a second-term, Yates’ worldview put him surprisingly at ease with younger generations. Throughout his career, he had been a ferocious – and in some cases, rare champion of Democratic causes, such as civil liberties and civil rights. He was also a gentle, beloved, congenial lawmaker who often quoted Shakespeare in debates. His instincts were almost always right, except perhaps when he decided to challenge Senate Everett Dirksen for his Senate seat in 1962 (the Kennedy administration shunned him, expecting any future Minority Leader would be less supportive of the New Frontier). Most importantly, Yates possessed immense legislative creativity. The debate over cutting or zeroing out funding for the NEA had enjoyed high-profile for nearly a year. So when the time came to put-up or shut-up, Yates simply proposed cutting the Endowment’s funding by $45,000 – the exact amount of the Mapplethorpe and Serrano grants. Colleagues saw that as a sterling, Jim-dandy way of striking a balance and showing federal dollars will be treated as the respectful and sparse commodity that they are. Fast-forward 25 years.
Now I realize the circumstances of the Planned Parenthood are slightly different. The selling of human body parts by doctors is revolting and one can’t put a value on that. But to use a bad apple to zero out funding on the basis of a few deplorable grounds is, well, deplorable in itself. Furthermore, I realize few on the hard-right will find the acceptability in applying anything close to a Yates formula to the Planned Parenthood melee. Many conservatives see it as ground zero in their weapon of adversity to the program and will not settle for anything less.
That said, if Congress were to simply decrease Planned Parenthood funding by say, the annual salaries that the doctors involved made and call it a day, the points will be made, the nation will be better served, the agency can continue serving women, and all parties political and otherwise can get back to doing the business that really matter. And the Yates rule will flourish for future common-sense battles – as well it should.
Well, that was fun while it lasted. Back to reality.