Planned Parenthood defends practices on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON (KGO) -- Planned Parenthood is under intense scrutiny on Tuesday as the head of the nonprofit is called to testify on Capitol Hill.

Republicans are blasting the organization for allegedly selling fetal tissue for profit, which is prohibited by law.

The partisan attacks came at full force. "If they're going to accept tax payer dollars, they're going to have to withstand the scrutiny of Congress asking tough questions about how they spend that money," House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz said.

House Republicans want to defund Planned Parenthood for alleged illegal practices.

In the hot seat is Cecile Richards, head of the organization. "It's a shame to think that there are people in this country who are so committed to ending women's access to both birth control and safe and legal abortions that they'll really resort to any means," Richards said.

The controversy stems from a series of video recordings released by Center for Medical Progress that suggests Planned Parenthood employees were negotiating, selling fetal issue.

Now four different congressional committees are investigating the matter.

Richards fired back, saying her organization has nothing to hide. "The outrageous accusations leveled against Planned Parenthood based on heavily doctored videos are offensive and categorically untrue," she said. "Using fetal tissue in life-saving medical research is legal."

Richards explained they donate, not sell, fetal tissue. She says less than one percent of their 700 clinics participate in this program.

Democrats say this is not about the videos, rather Conservative philosophy aimed at opposing a woman's right to choose.

"The facts are on our side. We're proud of the healthcare we deliver," Richards said.

There is $500 million at stake for Planned Parenthood. The House is expected to vote on a bill later Tuesday that could stop federal funding for the organization, which was set to expire Wednesday.

A new poll finds the majority of Americans approve of government support for Planned Parenthood. Two-thirds of those surveyed in the USA Today Suffolk University poll say funding should continue.

Planned Parenthood is fighting back against the harsh criticism with a new campaign underway Tuesday called National Pink Out Day.

It's offering free testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

It points out it provides a variety of health services, including providing birth control and cancer screenings.

They serve more than two million clients.