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Subscribe to RSSTexas can cut off funding to Planned Parenthood's family planning programs for poor women, a state judge ruled Monday.
Judge Gary Harger said that Texas may exclude otherwise qualified doctors and clinics from receiving state funding if they advocate for abortion rights.
The state has long banned the use of state funds for abortion, but had continued to reimburse Planned Parenthood clinics for providing basic health care to poor women through the state's Women's Health Program. The program provides check-ups and birth control to 110,000 poor women a year, and Planned Parenthood clinics were treating 48,000 of them.
Planned Parenthood's lawsuit to stop the rule will still go forward, but the judge decided Monday that the ban may go into effect for now. In seeking a temporary restraining order, Planned Parenthood's patients could have continued to see their current doctors until a final decision was made.
"We are pleased the court rejected Planned Parenthood's latest attempt to skirt state law," attorney general spokeswoman Lauren Bean said. "The Texas Attorney General's office will continue to defend the Texas Legislature's decision to prohibit abortion providers and their affiliates from receiving taxpayer dollars through the Women's Health Program."
Ken Lambrecht, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, said he brought the lawsuit on behalf of poor women who depend on its clinics.
"It is shocking that once again Texas officials are letting politics jeopardize health care access for women," Lambrecht said. "Our doors remain open today and always to Texas women in need. We only wish Texas politicians shared this commitment to Texas women, their health, and their well-being."
Planned Parenthood has brought three lawsuits over Texas' so-called "affiliate rule," arguing it violates the constitutional rights of doctors and patients while also contradicting existing state law.
Republican lawmakers who passed the affiliate rule last year have argued that Texas is an anti-abortion state, and therefore should cut off funds to groups that support abortion rights. Gov. Rick Perry, who vehemently opposes abortion, has pledged to do everything legally possible to shut down Planned Parenthood in Texas and welcomed the court's ruling.
"Today's ruling finally clears the way for thousands of low-income Texas women to access much-needed care, while at the same time respecting the values and laws of our state," Perry said. "I applaud all those who stand ready to help these women live healthy lives without sending taxpayer money to abortion providers and their affiliates."
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has spent the last nine months preparing to implement the affiliate rule. But federal officials warned it violated the Social Security Act and cut off federal funds for the Women's Health Program, prompting the commission to start a new program using only state money.
State officials have also scrambled to sign up new doctors and clinics to replace Planned Parenthood. Women who previously went to Planned Parenthood clinics will now have to use the agency's web site to find a new state-approved doctor.
On Friday, HHSC officials acknowledged they are unsure whether the new doctors can pick up Planned Parenthood's caseload in all parts of the state.
Linda Edwards Gockel, a spokesman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said Monday that the new state program will launch as planned on Tuesday.
"We have more than 3,500 doctors, clinics and other providers in the program and will be able to continue to provide women with family planning services while fully complying with state law," she said. "We welcome Planned Parenthood's help in referring patients to providers in the new program."
Democratic lawmakers continued to question whether women will have to wait longer for appointments and services.
"I vehemently disagree with the state's efforts to blacklist a qualified provider and, thereby, interfere with a woman's right to choose her own provider," said state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin. "I will be submitting a letter to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, requesting a list of approved providers to gauge the outreach of the new program, and ensure that all qualified women throughout the state have access to its services."
Another hearing is scheduled with a different judge for Jan. 11, where Planned Parenthood will again ask for an injunction to receive state funding.
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The elite brainwashed women and destroyed middle class wage structure. In the 50s and 60s one wage earner could support a family. Now it takes 2. Can't mother and be in the work force at the same time? No problem. Kill your babies. The Margaret Sanger plan.
Of course having most well-paying jobs exported overseas so corporations can decrease costs and increase profits has nothing to do with it .....
The current Republican party could care less about the average person. They answer to the Koch brothers and others of the same stripe. Corporations are people right.
Reagan and Clinton brought us this marvelous outcome - "transition to a service economy." It isn't a Dem or Rep blame here - plenty of sh!t to go around!
Texas Motto: Our tax dollars are not wasted on doctors, our tax dollars are wasted on lawyers, judges and political dictators.
Succeed already, we don't need, nor do we want this shameful 'state' of dumbfu*kistan in the Union. Florida is just as bad. In fact, the 'southern' states, so proud of the 'we ain't union' status and host to the 'new world' coolie labor Boeing Factories take more federal dollars per year than the other 40 states combined! Imagine the deficit reduction in a single year!
Texas is already suceeding and your brain seceded from your body.
All you Planned Parent backers should do the research and answer one question: Other than abortion referals, how much of PP's budget goes toward preventing pregnancies?
...almost all of it. Abortions are a very small percentage of what they actually do.
The new document the abortion organization posted shows Planned Parenthood did 329,445 abortions in 2010 while it provided prenatal care to only 31,098 women and referred only 841 women to adoption agencies.
(reference 2009- 2010 PPFA buddget release)
The states will lead they way. Texas outlaws funding abortion providers. Indiana and Michigan pass right to work law. Wisconsin outlaws corrupt public employee union collective bargaining for everything but salary. I love it.
"Texas judge"? They might as well have let FOXnews judge it.
It is pretty clear from reading the posts NewsVine that Fox News and the NRA are the governing bodies of this nation.
Hilarious.
The states will lead they way. Texas outlaws funding abortion providers. Indiana and Michigan pass right to work laws. Wisconsin outlaws corrupt public employee union collective bargaining for everything but salary. I love it.
Shortly after taking power Hitler disbanded all trade unions and make it against the law to organize.
YEAH!!! I'm tired of funding abortions. Teach these kids some morals. It saves a lot of money and problems. Condoms are cheap! There are plenty of other options. God forbid anyone take care of their own problems or be held accountable for their actions anymore.
Thank you Caligula! That is what it boils down to. We need more people like you. I'm also tired of being in the minority of tax payers having to pay for everyone else. So many people don't want to take personal responsibility when other options are available.
first of all, being poor is nothing to be ashamed of. People who have lost their homes due to foreclosures is nothing to be ashamed of. People need to stop thinking that "ABORTIONS" are a "PRIMARY" service to the less fortunate-not true. Birth control means less babies to feed and less stress on families. Health checkups are expensive and most of these families have no insurance nor will they be able to afford insurance. So many people "WOULD RATHER" have more options on their table but they may not. Some may be physically able but not mentally able-it's a case by case basis. God help those who infringe upon women's and family rights.
Just another example of corruption in government...
When the 1% buy your government you get a government that works only for the 1%...
It's the golden rule. The one with the most gold makes the rules.
Texas is a stain on the reputation of the United States of America. I wonder if they know just how many people are laughing at those wing nuts!! They're proof that neanderthals still live in the armpit of the country! They even indoctrinate their children too, mostly with things that arent true. I think somebody should be taken to task for child abuse!
Not even the armpit. Texas is the "gooch" of the US....that little sweaty area located between a man's balls and his anus.
Planned Parenthood's roots go back to a plan to kill black babies. Funny how the left ignores this history when they want to protect the right to kill at all cost.
Chalk one up for the good guys in Texas.
Margaret Sanger's elitist abortion plan did not only target blacks but southern and eastern European immigrants also. A matter of fact it targeted the working classes in total. According to Sanger the great impoverished unwashed hordes needed to be limited. Her plan is working beyond her wildest imagination. African Americans have the highest abortion rate of any demographic in the country. Not only that but native born Americans are not meeting the 2.5 children per couple replacement rate.
things change. duh. you should ignore irrelevant history. unless you can show how this is relevant to TODAY. Oh, that's right, you can't..lol. After all, the GOP used to be the party of small gov't, fiscal responsibility, not invading other countries, etc..and that was only a few decades ago, let alone sanger who goes back much farther.
This is more a freedom of speech issue but if you want to go there lets just say we should ban all guns because every few months some nut goes on a rampage. It's more than an ideology it's actual lives lost. I would never advocate depriving anyone of their constitutional. As a grown up I can accept that freedom comes with consequences and I would rather accept those consequences than give up my freedom or force others to give up theirs.
"Planned Parenthood's roots go back to a plan to kill black babies. Funny how the left ignores this history when they want to protect the right to kill at all cost."
Sort of how the political demographics in this country are the way they are SOLELY because of race? Look at a political map before Lincoln. The South was all Republican and the North all democrat. After Lincoln, the map reversed. It stays this way until the Civil Rights movement, then it flips again..... hmmmm
During Lincoln's time the Republican party was LIBERAL and PROGRESSIVE....NOT conservative.
anozoftruth-are you nuts? Most of our issues come from the Old White South!! Repbulicans are going down, and fast due to their fascist ideas and trying to control women and anything that will take monies from their coffers. Don't be fooled-Race has nothing to do with this-OLD WHITE SOUTHERN MEN don't want to lose control-that's why Boner can't get anywhere-he won't stand up to them. No respect for speaker of the house-he needs to go home.
I would think a state with a socialist as a senator is the chit stain or is that your neighbor Vermont.
"I would think" doesn't apply to you, I would think. :)
Vermont my IQ is twice yours.
lol, you wish. You're so dull you don't understand that ancient history that is irrelevant should be ignored. how moronic. :)
I'm dull but you can't construct a coherent sentence. What's ancient about Margaret Sanger's plan to limit the number of blacks when currently African Americans have the highest abortion rate of any ethnic group in America. Seems like her plan is working.
I'm dull but you can't construct a coherent sentence. What's ancient about Margaret Sanger's plan to limit the number of blacks when currently African Americans have the highest abortion rate of any ethnic group in America. Seems like her plan is working.
lol, how silly. Sanger started planned parenthood 100 years ago, that is ancient by today's standards.
Impress us with your "brilliance" and show that her policies from then continue vis-a-vis a concerted effort to eliminate blacks in favor of whites. go for it!
clue for the clueless: the fact that blacks have a higher abortion rate doesn't prove your point..at all. But you're so dull you think it does. Maybe..just maybe..there are other factors that contribute to a higher abortion rate for blacks rather than some conspiracy by PP. Think about it for awhile, maybe even YOU can figure it out..eventually. :)
But you see conspiracies everywhere, lol. Maybe you need to adjust your tin foil a bit tighter? :)
I love how all the pro-abortion people aren't even READING this. "Texas paid for treatment for 110,000 women, but PP only treated up to 48,000" SO where did the money for the other 63,000 go?
The answer lies with the abortion providers.
Those places offer low dose birth control and push abortion because that's where the money is made.
So now conservatives want to punish those that speak of things they don't agree with? And before Liberals get all sanctimonious, you're just as bad. We would all be a lot freer if everyone would mind their own business. A lot of people have nothing better to do than work vehemently to deprive the other guy of their rights. Pathetic.
Brought to you by the very same people who claim that there is "Legitimate Rape"...
Wasn't it Clinton that signed all those free trade agreements? And it's not the right that's borrowing 40 cents of every dollar the feds spend from China.
both the right and the left have run up large deficits since reagan took over...both parties love to spend more than they take in, they just do it for different reasons and to support different bases. "the right" that was fiscally conservative is long gone, unfortunately.
Texas is mostly under the thumb of the Bible Belt theocrats who do not believe in evolution but love the oil industry; who do not care what happens to women as long as they are available to procreation; who love the unborn but hate the poor child suffering from malnutrition, a poor education, and unavailable health care; who love Hispanics when they are cleaning homes and doing construction work and landscaping at less than minimum wage but hate Hispanics when they want what every person in America wants -- fair housing, treatment, wages, etc.; who hates the federal gov't unless they want money from it.
Texas = theocratic nightmare where the dumb and dumber get elected because they're part of the "good ole boys" network -- and who elects them? the dumber and dumbest who think that faux news is gospel and who refuse to think for themselves....
The small minority of us who do not think that the Republican/Tea Party folks are the be and end all to all problems are fighting an uphill battle for sanity, decency, rationality, and intelligent, thoughtful reasoning ... it's just really, really hard because we are such a minority ...
Most of the religious people I know do a lot to help the poor and sick. Politicians on the other hand are generally self-serving hypocrites that will do anything to stay in power. Regardless of how like-minded you and those that claim to represent you claim to be, our elections are more like many deals with many devils. Most of them need to be kicked out of office.
Abby you wouldn't need so many Chinese and Mexican workers if you stopped killing your kids.
leftsux you probably opposed Civil Rights for blacks to, it must be hard for you living in a somewhat progressive country. Your type have the ability to side tract progress but over time you cannot stop it.
Prog black Americans have the highest abortion rate among American ethnic groups. Seems like you democrap abortion celebrants are the greatest danger to blacks.
blacks have the biggest abortion rate because they have the biggest rate of unintended pregnancies, due to less access to the best available contraceptives and other factors...like will happen in texas.
you are good at ranting, not so good at being intelligent. :)
The Mexicans and Chinese wouldn't be in need of so many jobs if they didn't overpopulate and live beyond their environment's means.
So they are so very against abortion. Well bull crap for them. Instead of stopping pregnancies before they start with birth control they block that avenue too! What the FRICK is wrong with those people?
They got god! Sad but true.
Steven -
All Texas is saying is that if you want an abortion, you have to pay for it yourself instead of expecting the state to pay for it. What's wrong with that?
By the way, you can put your money where your mouth is and donate to Planned Parenthood yourself if you feel that strongly about it.
With the #1 problem facing the nation, world and planet being over population the republicans want to ban all forms of birth control and not teach sex education.
They need new volunteers for their needs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gregor1956,
It has NOTHING to do with celebrating Killing, no one likes abortions. It has everything to do with a women's rights and keeping government out of very personal issues. You mentioned this country and what it breeds, you should look in the mirror...
Or, we could keep taxpayer money out of very personal issues?
mpa is correct. Government is involved in personal issues no matter what. If planned parenthood continues funding from the government... than it is involved. Let them survive on their own. They will survive as their is obviously lots of supporters on this thread that would love to donate to them to keep the program alive. The people will get their healthcare paid for by the government still at other providers, tho Texas does not want to support the ones that do abortion.
All Texans should just pray away their illness & not bother the Drs...
Over population is bull. See Erlich's 1970s "The Population Bomb." The sky is falling, the sky is falling. The recieved wisdom of the 70s was over population. Now it's global warming/climate change. Leftist mental flagellance never ends.
Sir, you need to attend some Biology classes and learn what happens to populations that grow too large. We do not have infinite resources and space. The population has doubled since the 70's. Do you know what "exponential" means? Normally, animals will migrate to greener pastures with less predators and more resources when they run out OR they will starve off and nature will correct the imbalance. With humans, war and poverty are the result since we cannot migrate to a place with more resources, devoid of other humans.
Guessing nature will address the imbalance - not all progress is good: for every medical breakthrough, the population gets larger. There are those who foresee human lifespan at 200 - 300 years in the near future. Don't see this as necessarily a good thing.
It is INHUMANE to bring children into a world when you have nothing to offer them but poverty and destitution. Those who disagree probably also let their suffering, convalescent pets and relatives decay on a damp mattress while moaning in pain morning, noon, and night.
Poverty and destitution is in Angola and Bangladesh, not in Texas.
Wake up.
They are everywhere and they are more prevalent in overpopulated areas. Yes, India IS very overpopulated, hence the problem.
There is no poverty and destitution on Texas, Leftsux? Um, wrong.
Planned Parenthood is a bit of an oxymoron in that it is an abortion provider which means that the "planning" failed miserably. Now the avowed pupose is to provide"poor" (read Black/Latino) women with an opportunity to kill their child and save the taxpayers from having another mouth to pay for. A win-win for all but it does have a racist tinge to the concept. Personally I support the goal to say otherwise would make me antifeminist but I really don't have a problem with black/Latino children being born - so it's confusing. As a family planning institution, Planned Parenthood is a miserable failure; as an abortion clinic it's very successful. But maybe it would be nice if they distributed more morning after pills then dumping their daily load of "medical waste."
Bingo!
Well there is a fine example of no-mind thinking. Have fun with the huge increase for post natal care, daycare, health-care for singe parents. Just keep it out ladies. LOL Texas is the armpit of the USA LOL