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Judge Rules Ohio Can't Block Planned Parenthood Funds
A federal judge blocked Ohio's attempt to strip non-abortion funding from Planned Parenthood, ruling on a preliminary basis that state authorities had overstepped with a new regulation blocking abortion providers from unrelated health funds.
At issue is about $1.5 million the state has granted Planned Parenthood's 28 health centers in Ohio. The funds go to several separate programs that, respectively, work on STD prevention, fighting HIV/AIDS in communities of color, sexual health education for young people, breast and cervical cancer prevention, infant mortality reduction and preventing sexual violence against women.
None of the money goes to abortion services. But Ohio state authorities argued that they had a right to strip Planned Parenthood of the funds because it provides legal abortions, and that the state is entitled to express a preference for childbirth.
Federal district court judge Michael B. Barrett, a George W. Bush appointee, disagreed. "There is nothing within the scope of these programs related to performing abortions, promoting abortions or affiliating with an entity that performs or promotes abortions," he wrote. Under the constitution, he added, the state "cannot condition funding for these programs based on a recipient's exercise of the right to free speech or association outside of these programs."
At issue is about $1.5 million the state has granted Planned Parenthood's 28 health centers in Ohio. The funds go to several separate programs that, respectively, work on STD prevention, fighting HIV/AIDS in communities of color, sexual health education for young people, breast and cervical cancer prevention, infant mortality reduction and preventing sexual violence against women.
None of the money goes to abortion services. But Ohio state authorities argued that they had a right to strip Planned Parenthood of the funds because it provides legal abortions, and that the state is entitled to express a preference for childbirth.
Federal district court judge Michael B. Barrett, a George W. Bush appointee, disagreed. "There is nothing within the scope of these programs related to performing abortions, promoting abortions or affiliating with an entity that performs or promotes abortions," he wrote. Under the constitution, he added, the state "cannot condition funding for these programs based on a recipient's exercise of the right to free speech or association outside of these programs."
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-rules-ohio-can-t-block-planned-parenthood-funds-n629406
