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Judge tosses Arizona's anti-Planned Parenthood program
A federal judge on Monday overturned Arizona's attempt to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood.
Arizona's law, like similar statutes in other GOP-led states, sought to cut off Planned Parenthood's access to state and federal Medicaid funds. The law instead gave a preference to clinics and providers that do not also provide abortion.
Judge Neil Wake overturned the program Monday, after issuing an injunction last year that prevented the new law from taking effect while it was being challenged in court.
“Judge Wake’s ruling thwarts the will of Arizona taxpayers to stop funding big abortion businesses such as Planned Parenthood," SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement.
Republican governors have had bad luck in the courts attempting to defund Planned Parenthood at the state level. Federal criteria don't allow states to single out specific providers, and the Obama administration has filed briefs defending Planned Parenthood against the states' defunding efforts — including Arizona's.
