Indiana Cuts Planned Parenthood Funding

Indiana Cuts Planned Parenthood Funding article updated from 1:51 p.m. EDT with additional information on the new law.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Indiana has become the first U.S. state to cut off public funding for Planned Parenthood.

Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a law earlier this week that prohibits federal money given to the state for family planning services from going to clinics that provide abortions, the largest of which is Planned Parenthood.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed House Bill 1210 on Tuesday which cuts federal funding to any health services clinic that provide abortions.

The law was quickly challenged by Planned Parenthood on Tuesday when it requested that the law be temporarily blocked on the grounds that the law jeopardizes health care for thousands of women across Indiana.

However, U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt denied the request on Wednesday afternoon, allowing the cuts to take effect immediately.

The new state law also bans abortions for women more than 20 weeks pregnant, which is four weeks less than previously allowed, unless there is a substantial threat to the woman's life or health. These provisions will take effect on July 1.

Planned Parenthood has continuously argued that it abides by a federal law that is already in place, which prohibits the use of tax dollars to fund abortions. Proponents also argue that abortions generally make up only about 3% of the services the clinic provides.

According to supporters at PlannedParenthoodAction.org, Kansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas are most likely to follow Indiana's lead in eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood.

Betty Cockrum, president of Planned Parenthood Indiana, said she is "deeply disappointed" by the judge's ruling.

"The court's ruling today means that 9,300 Medicaid patients at our 28 locations have lost services from their preferred provider," Cockrum said.

A hearing is scheduled for June 6 at which point the court will rule on the request for an injunction against the legislation.

--Written by Theresa McCabe in Boston.



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