Wisconsin to defund Planned Parenthood

Wisconsin is close to joining a growing list of states that are defunding Planned Parenthood.

The state legislature adopted a budget Thursday night that strips almost $1 million from the nation's largest abortion provider. The sum includes state and federal funds for nine health centers, which Planned Parenthood says serve more than 12,000 uninsured women in many small communities.

"It is greatly disturbing to me that some politicians' personal beliefs are trumping our shared responsibility to make sure women and men have access to preventive reproductive health care," Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin President Teri Huyck said in a statement, "which is not only essential for their own lives, but also a cost-saver for all Wisconsin taxpayers."

Anti-abortion groups applauded the budget.

"Today is a great day for the pro-life cause," Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. "The SBA List, in conjunction with Wisconsin Right to Life, state lawmakers, and our grassroots supporters have been working to ensure that Wisconsin taxpayers are no longer forced to subsidize Planned Parenthood. The budget passed last night is an important step in that direction. We thank the Wisconsin legislature for their courage and are looking forward to Governor [Scott] Walkers' signature which will make a significant cut to America's largest abortion provider."

Indiana, Kansas and North Carolina have already passed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood, although Indiana's law is tied up in court. North Carolina lawmakers this week overrode Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's veto.

The Department of Health and Human Services has warned Indiana that its decision makes it out of compliance with Medicaid requirements, potentially jeopardizing millions of dollars in federal funds.

---