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Planned Parenthood Back In Court, Fighting For Funding

Updated: Friday, January 11 2013, 06:49 AM CST

On Friday morning, Planned Parenthood is continuing its fight against the State of Texas. The health provider is appearing in court, asking a state judge to block the enforcement of laws keeping them from getting what they say are crucial dollars.

On December 31, a judge’s ruling let the state cut off funding to Planned Parenthood’s family planning programs and to organizations that support abortion rights. The next day, the state began enforcing that law, which led the federal government to cut off funding to Texas for its Women’s Health Program, saying the law violated the Social Security Act. Because 90 percent of WHP funding came from the federal government, and about half of the more than 100,000 Texas women in the program went to Planned Parenthood, the group worries clinics will close and low-income women won’t get the care they need.

State officials say Texas’ new fully state-funded Women’s Health Program will be able to meet the need. They’ll be in court Friday to defend their position.

The hearing starts at 9 a.m. at the Travis County Courthouse and is expected to last all day.

By Adam BennettPlanned Parenthood Back In Court, Fighting For Funding