Justices decline to hear Planned Parenthood funding case
Source: Reuters
By Lawrence Hurley
WASHINGTON | Tue May 28, 2013 10:25am EDT
(Reuters) - In a victory for Planned Parenthood, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to consider whether the state of Indiana can prevent the nonprofit, which is the country's largest provider of abortions, from receiving federal Medicaid funding for any medical services it offers to low-income people.
Supporters of the law, which was blocked by an appeals court, had wanted to prohibit any government funding of Planned Parenthood's medical programs, such as cancer and HIV screenings, because the group also provides abortion services.
Medicaid is a federal health program for lower-income people that is administered by the states.
Under existing federal and state law, no government funds can be used to directly fund abortions, but Indiana's law went further by saying that no group that provides abortions could receive government funding for other services. The funding would have the effect of subsidizing the abortion programs, the law's supporters say.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/28/us-usa-court-abortion-idUSBRE94R0ID20130528
Indykatie
(3,691 posts)I live in Indiana and am big supporter of PP in the State. Our ex governor took on this attack on PP as a way to enhance his bona fides with the right wing when he was mulling a run for president. The new governor would no doubt also take the same approach so it's good to see the courts knock it down.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)over the allotment of federal funds? The legal eagles on DU will correct me if I'm wrong but I can't see where the state of Indiana has standing.
okwmember
(345 posts)but my understanding is that Medicaid is a federal program administered by the states. Its the reason who qualifies for Medicaid and how services are rendered differ from state to state. This of course differs from Medicare, a federal program administered by the feds so the same rules apply all over.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)The Justices had to admit that a State can not punish an organization for providing abortions. Despite what many people choose to believe, abortion is not a crime!