Republican Efforts Against Planned Parenthood In Texas Produce Few Results
The grand jury investigation is just one of several steps Texas Republicans have taken against the reproductive health organization. Media outlets also report on abortion news in Florida and Kentucky.
The Texas Tribune:
Texas GOP V. Planned Parenthood: A Scorecard
Almost six months ago, undercover videos surfaced purporting to show officials with Planned Parenthood in Texas discussing illegal acts. Texas Republicans pounced, opening up multiple battlefronts against the embattled women’s health organization. (Ura, 1/31)
The Houston Chronicle:
Planned Parenthood Just A Small Part Of Medicaid
If Texas officials succeed in kicking Planned Parenthood out of the state Medicaid program, the biggest impact will be felt by low-income women seeking birth control alternatives to the pill, such as condoms and Depo-Provera injections, according to an analysis of newly released state data. ... But the data also shows the women's health organization delivered only about 1 percent or fewer of other key Medicaid procedures such as the pill and tests for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, suggesting state officials may be right that those services can be obtained elsewhere. Moreover, the data indicates that removing Planned Parenthood from Medicaid would be far less damaging than the 2013 removal of the organization from the state Women's Health Program, which significantly affected access to family planning services. (Rosenthal and Ketterer, 1/31)
The Associated Press:
More Abortion Restrictions Advancing In Florida Legislature
Anti-abortion forces in the Florida Legislature are advancing a handful of bills they say are aimed at protecting the health of women, but that opponents say aim to deny access to abortions. If the measures pass, legal challenges are likely. A measure passed in Florida and signed by Gov. Rick Scott last year, requiring a 24-hour waiting period before obtaining an abortion, hasn't yet taken effect because of a challenge in state courts. (March, 1/31)
USA Today/The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal:
Planned Parenthood In Louisville Halts Abortions
Planned Parenthood temporarily has stopped offering abortion services at its new clinic in Louisville while it addresses objections the state raised Thursday about its license application for the facility. But in a letter Friday to Kentucky officials, Planned Parenthood claimed the organization had the state's approval when it began offering abortion services Jan. 21 at the downtown clinic. (Yetter, 1/29)
