Attorneys examine, defend Herbert’s Planned Parenthood cuts

Without court intervention, the funding is expected to end early next week.

“I am perplexed”, she said, according to KBIA.

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.

U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups said a decision would be issued later, but he refused to lift the order that keeps federal funds flowing through the state to Planned Parenthood, report the Associated Press and the Salt Lake Tribune.

Herbert directed the Utah health department in August to withhold about $272,000 in federal grants to Planned Parenthood for two after-school abstinence and reproductive health education programs, STD testing and an epidemiology database.

Planned Parenthood wants the judge to stop the state from carrying out Herbert’s order pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

Planned Parenthood Association of Utah argues it had nothing to do with the fetal tissue discussions, and the group is being targeted based on its affiliation with the national Planned Parenthood organization. Planned Parenthood denies the allegation and says the videos are misleading. Outside of the courtroom Tomsic said not granting the injunction would irreparably harm the organization and the people of Utah who would lose access to services.

She noted that Rudofsky failed to explain the necessity for conducting further inquiry before she decides the class-action question, and has already “explored in detail in written discovery” the women’s use of Planned Parenthood services and their use of other providers.

In making his order, the governor claimed those services could be provided by other groups and the state was pursuing that approach to prevent a stoppage of service.

DeGravelles sounded skeptical of Faircloth’s argument, citing state law indicating that there would be no violation of the state’s contract with Planned Parenthood if the organization wasn’t found legally liable.

Brattin suggested that the human lives taken by Planned Parenthood be honored the same way as veterans of the Vietnam War.

Utah’s move to cut off funding followed similar moves in other states against Planned Parenthood chapters.