Former Rep. and anti-abortion advocate Bart Stupak recently announced that he has accepted a job as a lobbyist for a firm that has a client list that includes Planned Parenthood of Maryland.
According to Roll Call, Stupak will be a lobbyist focusing on “policy, legislative and legal matters” for Venable LLP in Washington, D.C.
Stupak has an interesting history with pro-choice advocates. During last year’s scurry to pass the health care reform bill, Stupak positioned himself as one of the final hurdles facing the legislation by sponsoring an amendment that would prohibit the use of any federal funds for abortions set up in the bill’s health insurance exchanges. Even though the amendment failed, many states — including Florida — have adopted similar legislation.
Last week the government faced a shutdown that was hinging mostly on whether the federal budget would maintain funding for Planned Parenthood, a chain of women’s health clinics that includes abortions as one of its services. Planned Parenthood has been a frequent target of anti-abortion House Republicans throughout most of this legislative session.
According to Politico, Stupak’s name “drew extended booing” at a Planned Parenthood event on Capitol Hill last year. Stupak, however, sees the scrutiny over his employer’s connection to Planned Parenthood as “much ado about nothing.”
