In a letter to constituents, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she was "committed" to seeing that funding for Planned Parenthood would remain "intact" in the health care bill Republicans are framing to replace Obamacare, Politico reported Friday.
"I am committed to ensuring that important provisions of the ACA, such as covering those with pre-existing conditions, continued support for Medicaid expansion, coverage for dependents and no lifetime limits, and funding for Planned Parenthood remain intact," Murkowski wrote.
Murkowski is important as a swing vote in the Senate, which will need 50 senators to pass their health care plan. Defunding Planned Parenthood has been a priority of many Republicans and anti-abortion groups. Democrats are expected to vote against legislation to replace Obamacare.
In the past, Murkowski has been noncommittal about whether or not she would vote against health care legislation solely on the Planned Parenthood issue, while at the same time maintaining defunding the organization should not be a part of the Senate bill.
Murkowski told Politico this week she was a "strong proponent [of Planned Parenthood]" and would "fight to keep the funding in."
"I can't make promises or representations on bills that I don't know the contents of. I guess I'd have to see. But, I have been solid on Planned Parenthood," she said, stressing, "It's all about access."
Murkowski said funding Planned Parenthood provided "greater access for more women, more men. And, in my state, anything that you do to reduce access is a bad thing"
Earlier this year Murkowski joined Democrats and Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins opposing an effort to make it easier to defund the organization. But, in 2015 she voted in favor of a process to allow defunding Planned Parenthood after videos were released alleging the organization sold body parts.
Murkowski also supported the 2015 Obamacare repeal bill which defunded the organization, then supported an unsuccessful amendment that would allow for its funding.