Judge halts Texas ban on Planned Parenthood funding

The federal judge prevented Texas from enforcing the law, which banned Planned Parenthood from the state's health care program for women, until the legal challenge is concluded.

The New York Times: Texas: Judge Prevents Ban On Funds To Planned Parenthood
A federal judge in Austin on Monday prevented Texas from enforcing a rule that would have banned Planned Parenthood from participating in a health care program for low-income women (Fernandez, 5/1).

Los Angeles Times: Federal Judge Blocks Texas Funding Cuts To Planned Parenthood
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin cited evidence that the state rule banning Planned Parenthood from the program was unconstitutional. He imposed an injunction against enforcing the law until he can hear arguments in the case (Hennessy-Fiske, 4/30).

The Associated Press: Federal Judge Stops Texas Law On Women's Health
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott appealed Yeakel's decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, asking that it remove the injunction (Tomlinson, 4/30).

The Hill: Federal Jude Halts Texas Law Against Planned Parenthood
The law under scrutiny prohibited Texas state funding for organizations that provide abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. It passed last year. Eight Planned Parenthood clinics in the state that do not provide abortions sued in response, arguing that the law punishes them for associating with segments of Planned Parenthood that do provide abortions (Viebeck, 4/30).

Reuters: Judge Halts Texas Ban On Planned Parenthood Funding
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in favor of Planned Parenthood means thousands of women enrolled in the Texas Women's Health Program who go to its clinics will not have to find new health care providers, at least for now (4/30).

The Texas Tribune: Judge: HHSC Must Keep Planned Parenthood in WHP for Now
Gov. Rick Perry's spokeswoman, Catherine Frazier, just issued the following statement following today's ruling: "Texas has a long history of protecting life, and we are confident in Attorney General Abbott's appeal to defend the will of Texans and our state law, which prohibits taxpayer funds from supporting abortion providers and affiliates in the Women's Health Program. We will continue to work with the Attorney General to pursue all available legal options" (Tan, 4/30). 

Houston Chronicle: Texas Can't Bar Planned Parenthood From Program, Judge Rules 
"I find it particularly suspect that of all the different ways Governor (Rick) Perry could figure out to have a women's health program ... the only way he's interested in is a way that violates the United States Constitution," said Jeffrey Hons, president of the Planned Parenthood Trust of South Texas, which includes two affiliates in the lawsuit. "The question has to be asked, were you ever really interested in these women's health, or was this always a political game for you, where poor women were the weapon you were going to use to damage Planned Parenthood?" (Fikac, 4/30).