Federal Judge To Rule Monday On La. Gov.’s Effort To Block Medicaid Funding For Planned Parenthood Clinics
Gov. Bobbly Jindal, who is also a GOP presidential hopeful, began the push to defund the reproductive health organization last summer after controversial videos were released regarding the group's involvement in fetal tissue research. In other news, Michigan anti-abortion advocates are advancing measures in the state legislature that would target second-term abortions.
The Associated Press:
Judge To Rule On Planned Parenthood Funding In Louisiana
A federal judge said he will decide by Monday whether to block Gov. Bobby Jindal’s attempt to cut off state Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood’s Louisiana clinics. Jindal, a Republican presidential candidate, began the defunding effort after secretly recorded videos were released by an anti-abortion group purportedly showing Planned Parenthood illegally selling fetal tissue for profit. The videos led to similar defunding efforts by Planned Parenthood opponents in other states and in Congress. (McGill, 10/16)
The Associated Press:
Michigan Bills Would Ban Second-Term Abortion Procedure
Michigan anti-abortion advocates are targeting a common second-trimester abortion procedure, pushing bills in the Republican-led Legislature to prohibit what they say is "dismemberment" of a fetus. Similar criminal bans have been approved in two other states, Kansas and Oklahoma, where they temporarily are on hold after court rulings. The Michigan legislation was the subject of a House hearing on Tuesday and could advance this fall. (Eggert, 10/17)
In addition, Iowa reports a drop in abortions and an Indian Health Service policy loosens Plan B restrictions -
The Des Moines Register:
Abortion Numbers Drop 40% In Seven Years In Iowa
The number of Iowa women obtaining abortions continues to plummet, even as national arguments over abortion rekindle. The abortion rate decline is dramatic, if unheralded. The number of abortions performed in Iowa dropped nearly 9 percent from 2013 to 2014, according to figures released last week by the Iowa Department of Public Health. The 2014 total of 4,020 reflects a 40 percent decline since 2007, when 6,649 abortions were performed in the state. (Leys, 10/17)
The Associated Press:
Policy Makes Plan B More Accessible To American Indian Women
The federal Indian Health Service has finalized a policy that makes emergency contraception more accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native women. The written policy released this week requires the morning-after pill to be available to women of any age over the counter at IHS-run facilities, no questions asked. That's in line with a 2013 U.S. Food and Drug Administration decision to lift age limits and make the medication available without a prescription. (Fonesca, 10/16)
