Feds warn Louisiana over ending state funding of Planned Parenthood

The US government has warned Louisiana and Alabama that their move to defund Planned Parenthood might be in conflict with federal law, officials said Wednesday.

Put them in jail and throw away the key. And suspend operating licenses for any new facilities.

In the South, withholding funding would have the most impact in Louisiana, where more dollars have been paid to Planned Parenthood.

“It’s good to hear that HHS has clarified what we already know: blocking women’s access to care at Planned Parenthood is against the law”, said Planned Parenthood Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens. States that terminate their Medicaid-provider agreements with Planned Parenthood restrict access by not permitting recipients to get services from providers of their choice, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Gov. Maggie Hassan’s office says Planned Parenthood won an open and competitive bidding process for the contracts, and described Sununu’s vote as politically motivated.

“I find it alarming that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is quick to say our state is breaking the law by defunding Planned Parenthood, and yet refuses to investigate them even after six incriminating videos have clearly shown the organization manipulating abortion procedures, selling infant remains following an abortion, and evading patient consent regulations”, said Fleming, a physician and strong abortion opponent. “And I think it is unfortunate that Planned Parenthood has been the object of such a concerted attack for so many years”. Authors are faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft columns that adhere to journalistic best practices and Associated Press style guidelines.

Still, per a June 2011 memo from HHS, states can exclude providers under certain circumstances such as if providers commit fraud, notes WSJ.

Ah ha! Criminal acts!

Planned Parenthood has denied profiting from the sale of fetal tissue and said it charges fees exclusively to cover its costs.

Sen. Ed Markey, one of 46 senators who voted against a bill seeking to defund Planned Parenthood, was the largest recipient of the abortion service provider’s donations, having received, 290, according to Fox News. Women don’t come to Planned Parenthood to make a political statement, they come to get high-quality, affordable and compassionate care. That includes Bobby Jindal.

If federal and state officials can’t resolve the matter informally, states can request a hearing.

Busloads of anti-abortion activists rallied outside the Planned Parenthood clinic near University Avenue and Vandalia Street in St. Paul on Tuesday for a speak-out staged to coincide with similar protests around the nation.

Medicaid is the US government’s healthcare programme for the poor while Medicare is for the aged and disabled. Every Republican presidential nominee for the last 15 years has opposed abortions with rape, incest and mother’s life exemptions, underscoring the issue’s unifying effect within the party. We see the dead bodies of late-term prenatal babies lying in buckets, waiting to be parted out.