Federal Judge Puts A Hold On La.’s Effort To Terminate Medicaid Contracts With Planned Parenthood
Meanwhile, bills have been advanced in the Wisconsin legislature that also target the reproductive health organization.
Bloomberg News:
Louisiana Can't Yank Planned Parenthood's Medicaid Funds Yet
Louisiana's plan to yank Planned Parenthood's Medicaid contracts Wednesday was put on hold until Sept. 15 as a federal judge questioned the state's reasons for terminating them. Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican presidential candidate, vowed to take away the group's public funding after the organization was accused in a video campaign that purported to show its doctors discussing harvesting fetal tissue for research. (Hasselle and Calkins, 9/2)
The Associated Press:
Judge To Decide If Planned Parenthood Stays In La. Medicaid
A federal judge on Wednesday questioned why Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration removed Planned Parenthood from Louisiana's Medicaid program if its clinics are competent to provide health care services. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles seemed skeptical about the justification that Jindal's health secretary, Kathy Kliebert, is using to terminate the Medicaid provider agreements Louisiana has with Planned Parenthood's clinics in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (DeSlatte, 9/2)
Tribune Wire Reports:
Republican Bills In Wisconsin Target Planned Parenthood Federal Funding
About $7.5 million in federal funding for Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin would be cut under two Republican-backed bills heard Wednesday by a state Assembly committee, measures that come as the Legislature also considers criminalizing research on aborted fetal tissue. Supporters defended the measures as reasonable steps to prevent taxpayer money going to a group that provides abortions. But opponents said halting the funding would adversely affect the women's health services, including cancer screenings and wellness checks, which Planned Parenthood also provides to about 60,000 men and women a year. (9/2)
And on Capitol Hill -
The Washington Post:
Parade Of Planned Parenthood Hearings Begins Next Week
Congress will make its first public examination of Planned Parenthood next week, a day after lawmakers return from their long summer recess, following the release of a series of undercover videos airing frank conversations about the group's fetal tissue practices. The Sept. 9 hearing scheduled Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee will be the first in a series titled "Planned Parenthood Exposed: Examining the Horrific Abortion Practices at the Nation's Largest Abortion Provider" -- making clear that the women's health care provider can expect withering attention from the committee's Republican majority. (DeBonis, 9/2)