The First State That Tried To Defund Planned Parenthood Is Officially Giving Up

[Playinghardball]

After a legal battle that has stretched over the course of two years, the state of Indiana has agreed to put an end to its efforts to strip Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood clinics. Indiana was the first state that attempted to target the national women’s health organization by blocking it from receiving state-level Medicaid dollars for the services it provides to low-income women.

In 2011, Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN) signed a law to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving any Medicaid funding simply because it is an abortion provider — even though that money actually funds general health screenings for thousands of low-income women, not abortions. That sparked a national trend. Anti-abortion lawmakers in states like Arizona, North Carolina, Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas followed suit, enacting similar laws intended to defund the women’s health organization by excluding it from their states’ pools of public insurance providers.

But those efforts have been largely unsuccessful. Multiple courts have determined that states aren’t allowed to discriminate against qualified Medicaid providers simply because of their stance on abortion rights, saying that low-income women deserve the freedom to choose their own doctors.

Indiana’s own law was temporarily blocked by a U.S. District Judge last year, and a federal appeals court decided to uphold that injunction. Indiana officials kept fighting, asking the highest court in the country to hear their appeal of the case — but the U.S. Supreme Court declined to do so in May. Now, the state of Indiana is agreeing to permanently end its failed legal crusade against Planned Parenthood.

Cecile Richards, the president of the women’s health organization, hailed the news as a victory for women across the country who rely on Planned Parenthood clinics for their preventative care. “This is not only a victory for Planned Parenthood’s patients in Indiana, it is a victory for the nearly three million people who turn to Planned Parenthood health centers each year across the country,” Richards said in a statement. “Politicians in all 50 states should take note: blocking Planned Parenthood from funding to provide preventive health care is both unlawful, and deeply unpopular.”

More: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/07/30/2386081/indiana-defund-planned-parenthood-fails/

[sheshe2]

1. This is great news

for the women of Indiana.

Now, the state of Indiana is agreeing to permanently end its failed legal crusade against Planned Parenthood.

I hope we will see this as a trend in other states!

[TxDemChem]

11. +1,000

[MotherPetrie]

2. G.O.O.D.

[Lifelong Protester]

3. Excellent.

Let thos conservative so-and-sos knock their heads against a brick wall for a change.

[Iliyah]

4. Don't believe it.

Planned destruction of Planned Parenthood across the red states are slowly happening. Score one for not so very wealthly women but the gopers are dogs with lots of money and connections.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

5. tiny little victories against those beating up on the poor are important, but so sad.

How the Grand Old Party has sunk to this depth is truly stunning.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. My conservative GOP sister

is one of the few who defends Planned Parenthood, I found out recently.....because for years, when I had little money, I used them for my annual exams and Pap smears, as well as birth control pills. I could never have afforded it without PP, and I let her know it. I also shared tales of how many women were there every time I was there, all for exams and birth control. She remembers this even after all these years, and she is helping our side in this fight.

[Skittles]

7. your sister is not a lost cause

keep working on her Curmudgeoness; yes INDEED

[duhneece]

8. We 'sacred activists' need to celebrate any and all victories

Otherwise we can too easily become overwhelmed with despair...ok, maybe that's all just me!

[AlBratt]

9. Planned Parenthood

Dem's need to go after these Fundie Republicans at all levels of government in all states to eradicate this scourge on America.

[Curmudgeoness]

12. There really need educated

instead of brainwashed. They are so down on abortion that they will destroy PP on that alone.

We have to make sure, every time we hear the bullshit, that they know how much other health care women get there. Vital services. And if I remember correctly, Medicaid does not go to the abortion side of PP, so they are pissing in the wind. We have to teach them to piss in the right direction.

[sakabatou]

10. Awesome

[Sheepshank]

13. unfortunately, it's now on to plan b

requiring insanely obsessive and onerous regulations, hospital admittance for the doctors, on site expensive surgical standards etc. They lost the battle, but the war goes on.

[Myrina]

15. ^^ Yes, THIS is their new tactic. ^^

Clinics in my home state of WI are shutting their doors due to Snot Walker's new restrictions, and many states like Texas and NC are following suit. Indiana won't be far behind. Sadly.

[They_Live]

14. Texas has effectively

shut it down. Help.