With only Republicans voting in favor, an Ohio House panel Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that would move Planned Parenthood and other facilities that offer family planning services to the end of the line to receive federal money.

Democrats said they were surprised their Republican colleagues would target women’s services so soon after last week’s election, in which several pro-life congressional candidates were defeated.

“Extreme politicians lost on election night because of their anti-women, anti-family agenda,” said Rep. Nancy Garland, D-New Albany. “Republicans here in the Statehouse have failed to get the message.”

But the bill’s supporters argued that the proposed priority funding system would increase the number of health care facilities benefiting from federal money and increase options for women.

“Our preference is if there’s a community health center that’s providing family planning services for women and they can do it on a scale where they can absorb, we’d love to have women going there instead of Planned Parenthood where they’re being pushed toward abortion and their abortion agenda,” said Stephanie Krider, director of legislative affairs for Ohio Right to Life, which backs the bill.

House Bill 298 would establish a tiered priority system to award several federal grants. Public health agencies would receive funding first, followed by community health centers, privately-run practices and centers that provide comprehensive care in addition to family planning services and lastly family planning services.

The House Health and Aging Committee backed away from the bill earlier this year but passed it Wednesday along party lines, 11-9, with Democrats strongly in opposition.

Rob Nichols, spokesman for Gov. John Kasich, would not say Wednesday whether the governor supports the bill but said, “The governor is pro-life and supports policies that protect the sanctity of life.”

Federal family planning dollars are awarded based on a competitive grant process open to health department clinics, outpatient clinics and others. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio receive about $1.6 million each year in federal funds passed through the state Department of Health. Planned Parenthood officials estimate between 7 and 10 percent of the organization’s funding is at risk with the prioritized system.

Federal law prohibits the use of government money for use in funding abortions. Stephanie Kight, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, told lawmakers Wednesday the organization keeps separate books, staffers fill out separate time sheets and both accounts are separately audited.

Kight said Ohio’s 32 Planned Parenthood centers serve nearly 100,000 Ohioans — most for preventative care such as breast exams and contraception.

“The bill will not reduce the number of abortions,” Kight said. “It will reduce access to the care that we know helps women plan their pregnancies and have healthy pregnancies.”

Several doctors testified against the bill, saying they refer patients to Planned Parenthood for multiple reasons that include screenings for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.

“I don’t see in this bill we’re improving the system,” said Dr. Kimberly Shepherd, a gynecologist in Columbus. “I feel like we should be supporting those providers and those systems that are doing a good job taking care of women.”