Virginia governor vetoes bill defunding Planned Parenthood

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



21 FEB 2017 AT 16:19 ET

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have blocked funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions and other health services.

The bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature would have barred the state from providing funds to clinics that perform abortions not covered by Medicaid, the federal healthcare program for the poor.

McAuliffe, a Democrat, said the measure would harm thousands of Virginians who relied on Planned Parenthood healthcare services and programs. He vetoed a similar measure last year.

“Attempts to restrict women’s access to health care will impede the goal of making Virginia the best place to live, work, and run a business,” he said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/virginia-governor-vetoes-bill-defunding-planned-parenthood/

[lark]

1. Thank you Gov. McAuliffe!

The women of VA are lucky to have him as governor. Look at the awful things they are trying to do in KS and OK under awful Repugnant governors.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. Thanks Governor.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Another firewall Democratic governor

in GOP-legislature hell.

VA has a gubernatorial election this year so hope that they can keep a Democrat in - if anything, for 2020 census purposes.

[appalachiablue]

4. K&R Way to go Terry, keeping the Old Dominion democratic.

[Kimchijeon]

5. wow, thank you

[halobeam]

6. I am not in Virginia, but I wrote to thank him.

I write or call anywhere when I take issue with something, I'm sure going to do the same when they are doing the right thing.

If anyone wants to toss over a TY... it's just a click away.

https://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/Communicating-with-the-governors-office

[appalachiablue]

8. Thanks, that's an excellent suggestion and link.

[riversedge]

7. Judge blocks Texas cutting Medicaid to Planned Parenthood

Of course TX said they will appeal



Judge blocks Texas cutting Medicaid to Planned Parenthood
https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-blocks-texas-cutting-medicaid-planned-parenthood-230037479.html



[Associated Press]
PAUL J. WEBER
Associated PressFebruary 21, 2017

FILE PHOTO - An exam room at the Planned Parenthood South Austin Health Center is shown in Austin, Texas, U.S. on June 27, 2016. REUTERS/Ilana Panich-Linsman/File Photo

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Texas can't cut off Medicaid dollars to Planned Parenthood over secretly recorded videos taken by anti-abortion activists in 2015 that launched Republican efforts across the U.S. to defund the nation's largest abortion provider.

An injunction issued by U.S. District Sam Sparks of Austin comes after he delayed making decision in January and essentially bought Planned Parenthood an extra month in the state's Medicaid program.

Texas is now at least the sixth state where federal courts have kept Planned Parenthood eligible for Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion services, although a bigger question remains over whether President Donald Trump will federally defund the organization.

Sparks' decision preserves what Planned Parenthood says are cancer screenings, birth control access and other health services for nearly 11,000 low-income women at 30 clinics. Texas originally intended to boot Planned Parenthood in January but Sparks told the state to wait pending his ruling. Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana have also had similar efforts blocked...........................