A perennial target for Republicans because a small part of its services includes abortions, Planned Parenthood recently was attacked in a series of videos. Produced and posted online by anti-abortion activists, the videos alleged Planned Parenthood improperly sells aborted fetal tissue. The healthcare group denies the allegations and calls the videos deceptive.
Senator Ted Cruz on Monday denounced Republican leadership's willingness to compromise with Democrats to avoid a shutdown, calling it "preemptive surrender."
In an hour-long speech in the Senate, the Republican presidential candidate said a shutdown would prove to voters that Republican leadership will fight for conservative values.