House Republicans have begun an investigation into Planned Parenthood’s use of federal funds, questioning whether the national network of abortion providers has proper checks in place to prevent violations of federal law.

Democrats and Planned Parenthood itself have blasted the investigation as a partisan move designed not only to score political points but also to curtail health care for women.

The investigation, announced by Rep. Cliff Stearns, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s investigation subcommittee, in a letter earlier this month to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, asks for audits and other information about PPFA’s financing.

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A Congressional committee has taken the first steps in investigating the Planned Parenthood abortion business over abuses ranging from financial disparities to its compliance with federal regulations on taxpayer funding to concerns that it is covering up cases of sex trafficking.

In a September 15 letter LifeNews.com obtained, Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican who is the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Investigations, writes to Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.

“Pursuant to Rules X and XI of the United States House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce is examining the institutional practices and policies of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates, and its handing of federal funding,” Stearns writes.

(CNSNews.com) - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius admitted at a House hearing last week that $500 billion in Medicare cuts contained in the Democrats’ health care law is being counted in two ways: both to shore up Medicare and to fund health-care reform.

Sebelius made the admission during questioning by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on March 3.

Shimkus noted that the Obama administration’s chief actuary for Medicare, Richard Foster, has said that the administration cannot simultaneously bolster Medicare and fund health-care reform without adding to the deficit...

(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee told CNSNews.com that House Republicans “are going to insist on being bipartisan in the majority but it’s going to be a conservative agenda.” He added that Obama will not “want to pick a fight” with House Republicans if the bills they send to the Senate are supported by 60-70% of the American people.

“People like John Boehner and myself wanted to be bipartisan in the minority. I think he and I both are going to insist on being bipartisan in the majority but it’s going to be a conservative agenda – repeal Obamacare, cut spending, work across party lines, send bills to the Senate and you can get 60 votes and the President can sign those or if he vetoes them, then we’ll work hard to override those vetoes,” Barton told CNSNews.com at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) election results watch event on Tuesday night...