Arizona Bans Funding to Planned Parenthood Over Abortion

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (Photo: AP/Tingle)

Arizona Bans Funding to Planned Parenthood Over Abortion

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law Friday a bill banning all abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, from receiving public funds.

Arizona already denies funding for abortion procedures; however the new law, Whole Woman's Health Funding Priority Act, will ban all funding to all institutions who may provide other services in addition to abortions.

Planned Parenthood Arizona said the law takes away life-saving cancer screenings, birth control and basic health care from thousands of women in the state.

"We are most concerned about the women and men who could be forced to go without health care as a result of this bill," Bryan Howard, Planned Parenthood Arizona's president and CEO, stated.

Brewer signed the measure into law at a reception for the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion advocacy group.

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Reuters: Arizona bans funding to Planned Parenthood in abortion fight

The Republican-backed Whole Woman's Health Funding Priority Act cuts off funding for family planning and health services delivered by Planned Parenthood clinics and other organizations offering abortions.

"By signing this measure into law I stand with the majority of Americans who oppose the use of taxpayer funds for abortion," Brewer said in a statement.

Arizona joins six other states with similar laws, officials said. But three of those states -- Indiana, Kansas and North Carolina -- are facing legal challenges.

Arizona does not provide tax dollars for abortion, but backers said the law is needed to make sure that no indirect monies are funneled to organizations like Planned Parenthood that provide abortion and other health services. There were no estimates of how much money is involved. [...]

While Planned Parenthood suffered a setback in Arizona, it won a temporary battle in court on Friday with Texas. A federal appeals court ruled that the organization could participate in a health program for low-income women in Texas, despite a new state rule there that bans affiliates of abortion providers.

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