Federal Court enjoins Texas from defunding Planned Parenthood

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This is what lies in store for Arizona if Jan Brewer signs HB 2800, the Christian Taliban aka Center for Arizona Policy bill that attempts to defund Planned Parenthood. Judge halts Texas from removing Planned Parenthood from program:

A federal judge on Monday stopped Texas from banning Planned Parenthood clinics from a state women's health program because the organization provides abortions.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin cited evidence that the state rule excluding Planned Parenthood from the program was unconstitutional and imposed an injunction against enforcing the rule until he can hear arguments in the case.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's office appealed the injunction, which temporarily stopped 49 Planned Parenthood clinics from being removed from the state program.

Planned Parenthood officials in Texas praised the judge's ruling, which they said helps protect the women they serve.

"Politics simply doesn't have a place in women's health," said Melaney A. Linton, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. "We call on Governor (Rick) Perry and the state to put Texan women first and set aside any vendetta they may have against Planned Parenthood. No woman should ever have to fear being cut off from her doctor's care because of shortsighted political games."

The provision at issue was part of a law passed last year by Texas legislators. It would have barred the Texas Women's Health Program from giving money to organizations affiliated with abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood. This appears to be "model legislation" from the Forced Birth movement. It's time that Arizona stop waisting money on lawsuits in pursuit of ideological extremism.

Call Gov. Jan Brewer's Tucson office at 628-6580, or call Phoenix toll-free at 1-800-253-0883. Or email her using the form on her website: azgovernor.gov/contact.asp

UPDATE: The Talibani suffered another defeat in Oklahoma on Monday. Oklahoma court tosses 'personhood' amendment:

The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously tossed out a proposed “personhood” amendment Monday, yet another setback for the controversial movement that has divided abortion-rights opponents.

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The personhood proposal in Oklahoma is “clearly unconstitutional,” the state supreme court said in a unanimous ruling Monday. Abortion-rights supporters hailed the decision.

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Personhood advocates are trying to get their proposals on the ballot this fall in several states, including swing states such as Florida and Colorado. But so far they’ve made little progress.

A federal judge in Nevada blocked a personhood measure from appearing on the state’s ballot in November. And voters in Mississippi rejected "personhood" last year, a sign that the movement is struggling to gain support even in deeply conservative states.

Colorado voters have twice defeated personhood measures.