Dr. Andy Harris to Join Planned Parenthood Investigation Committee

from the Baltimore Sun

Maryland Rep. Andy Harris was one of eight Republicans named Friday to a new select House panel that will investigate the abortion controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood.

Harris, a Hopkins-trained anesthesiologist, has long been an ardent critic of federal funding for the organization. The Cockeysville lawmaker voted against a recent stop-gap budget to keep the government running, in part, over the issue.

"It is an honor to be asked to serve on the select panel that will investigate the deeply disturbing activities that have been ongoing at abortion providers," Harris said in a statement.

"A comprehensive investigation is necessary to learn the truth about the possibly illegal activities carried out by taxpayer-funded organizations."

Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee will chair the panel.

The naming of members to the committee came a day after the GOP-led select panel on Benghazi grilled Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for 11 hours over her role as Secretary of State in the 2012 attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya.

Democrats have criticized both panels as expensive and political fishing expeditions.

Controversy over the Planned Parenthood videos nearly caused a government shutdown this month -- and it's not clear lawmakers are any closer to resolving their differences over the issue ahead of the next funding deadline on Dec. 11.

The other GOP members of the panel include:

Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania
Rep. Diane Black of Tennessee
Rep. Larry Bucshon of Indiana
Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin
Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri
Rep. Mia Love of Utah