Dem senators want to warn states against targeting Planned Parenthood

CBS/AP

Thirty Democratic senators sent a letter to the Obama administration on Thursday, urging them to warn Medicaid directors at the state level that it's against the law to block Medicaid funds or Title X family planning funds from going to clinics that provide abortion services, like Planned Parenthood.

The letter comes in response to Indiana's new law, which took effect May 10, barring state agencies from entering contracts with or giving grants to entities (besides hospitals) that perform abortions.

Republican lawmakers in virtually every state this year have pushed legislation to restrict abortion rights, as have Republicans at the federal level, but the new Indiana law represents the boldest state-based challenge to Planned Parenthood yet. Now other states are now following Indiana's lead, USA Today reports. Bills to cut funding to Planned Parenthood recently saw action in Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas and North Carolina.

The 30 senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that excluding clinics like Planned Parenthood from Medicaid violates rules saying the federal funds must go to "any willing provider" that is qualified, as well as Medicaid's "equal access" requirement. They point out that 48 percent of Planned Parenthood' patients are Medicaid patients, and 60 percent of women who use health care clinics like Planned Parenthood say they are their main health care providers.

"The restrictions threatened by state legislatures blatantly contradict the spirit and letter of well-established and long accepted law," the 30 senators wrote.

Administration officials in the coming months will have to decide whether to approve the new Indiana law, and reports suggest they won't support it. It's subject to federal review since Medicaid is financed by both the federal and state governments.

[pasha128]

Every state that denies Medicaid access to legitimate companies should be be fined in federal court for their violations including punitive damages for the affected companies as well as for the portion of Medicaid funds and Administrative fees for the federal government to take over their responsibilities, for every year or fraction thereof that the state refuse to amend their practices.

[RET-ABNRGR-CSM]

Hey Ms Zann -- How you doing Ma'am? I'm in Manassas, VA - Going to the "Wall" in the morning -- Check this out -- I just heard Sarah Palin is gonna ride Rolling Thunder this year! Looking forward to seeing her

If you run across "meboard" please tell her I'm sorry I didn't get to say Bye before firing up the Harley and heading North to DC

You have a GREAT Memorial Day -- and the same to the rest of the Vets out there!

Please take a second out of your day Monday and remember those who gave everything for our Freedoms

"Rangers Lead The Way!"

[Mortarman429]

Hey CSM...you were about 7 miles from me. We should have met up and had a beer.

[ajvw]

more federal government stepping on 10th amendment

[justme2012]

Ever since Obama was elected, the federal government has tried to remove state's rights and claim that power for the executive branch.

Obama has taken the "UNITED" Out of the USA and is replacing the U with another S.

[pasha128]

The article reports that the REPUBLICANS are breakinf the law at the state level and you complain about the President. That makes about as much sense as those congratulating Arizona's legislators for creating a the Legal Arizona Worker's Act in 2007 (reaffirmed yet again as constitutional) under a Democratic Governor as the current Republican governor refuses to enforce the provisions of the law against those that employ illegals as she has been legally required to do in her state.

[Zann-Zel]

No you've got it backwards!
Ever since Obama was Elected (and yeah it was an election, over 1/2 of our citizens wanted him President!) the Republicans have attempted to USE the states to try to accomplish their agendas! And this is obviously AGAINST the will of the people if over 1/2 of us voted for OBAMA!

[pasha128]

The feds could partially de-certify the state as a Medicaid / Medicare provider and make the payments directly to the providers the State illegally denied access to the various programs. The state's loss of funding should include the federal and and state portions of the payments the feds have to pay directly along with an additional service fee for the establishment of federal employees to perform the state's tasks for these illegally blocked providers.

[roblearns]

I get it, abortion is such a heated issue, that its all we want to discuss. But, we must put that aside, because there is a larger principle at stake. Does the federal government have the right to do whatever it so chooses, or is it restricted by the Constitution under a constitutional democracy form of governmnet? If so, then the constitutions mandate that powers not granted to the united states are 'Reserved to the States'

It may be illegal, under federal law, for a state to restrict funding to Planned Parenthood. It may also be unconstitutional under the constitution for the federal government to write such a law.

You can't compel a state to fund abortions. If the federal government wants to fund abortions - don't do it via the states. Right.

There is a reason they are doing it via the states - find that reason out, Senators - educate yourself just a little bit. You are in the position of writing laws, after all - a little education on lawmaking and government could be helpful.

[riverafire]

This is not about funding abortion. Less than 3% of services provided by Planned Parenthood are abortions. Moreover, there are already laws in place that restrict spending of federal money so that it isn't spent on abortions. The current efforts to deny funding to Planned Parenthood will only deprive low-income women of preventative healthcare.

[Zann-Zel]

There was an election in this country!
Do the states have the right to ignore the will of the people?
We voted for the Democrats and the Republicans DO NOT have the right to try to use the states to undermine everything that WE voted for!

[pallyden0110]

Then These are 30 Senators that need to go home and wait out the days in Retirement, they obviously don't have a clue what is really important. People are more worried about jobs and the government spending more money it doesn't have. Who needs it more, Granny who needs food on her table or Ms. Sexpot who doesn't know when to keep her legs shut? Granny did nothing wrong, and Ms. Sexpot knows if she opens her legs she may get pregnant. Abortion is not birth control, and PP doesn't need my dollars to pay for it. Let Babs do a "Let's kill children" Concert, if she and Hollywood left want this. Leave Granny & me out of it, and our wallet intact!

[KPeters_from_UK]

I have an idea why can't all extremist Christians just move to their own little country government by theocracy and tyranny.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Oh George you don't pay for abortions anyway. Since 1976 no federal money can go to abortions. The threat of cuts will only hurt the services desperately needed for the vulnerable. The GOP is so willing to risk this populations health in order to win brownine points from the teabaggers. Sick. No Planned Parenthood should not be asked to stop something that is LEGAL. And no child, teenager or woman should be denied basic health services because of a hidden religious agenda.

[KPeters_from_UK]

WillMunny1

LOOK IT UP. Since 1976 no Federal tax dollars go to Planned Parenthood for abortions. Who said that taxes were paying for abortions in the States? Who? Who?

[credibility2]

Dems don't want to do anything about the issue of irresponsible sex and illegitimate birth rates. They can't, since they need the votes of these types of groups that look the other way to their depraved behavior. Then, the taxpayer gets stuck with either paying for an abortion or raising the kid through welfare and other handout government programs. The Dems are spineless and gutless. They really don't care about people and would rather have their constituency suffer because of their own ignorant behavior, than cut off the programs and force them to have some individual responsibility and accountability for their actions.

[KPeters_from_UK]

What about forced incest, rape? But this is also about the 97% other services that Planned Parenthood does for vulnerable women, children and female students who would not be able to access other health services due to cost.

I could swear on my heart that it is the GOP who doesn't care one iota of crap about the vulnerable. Services for women and children are always the first services to be targeted and cut by the GOP and you darn to claim that the Dems don't care about people?

[byrdh5n1]

After abandoning the Abstinence-Only philosophy of the Republicans and focusing on real sex education, the teen birth rate (and its associated abortion rate) has dropped substantially (or do you read genuine facts). Your answer appears to be even more cynical than that which you attribute to Democrats. It sounds as if you are pro-life.... but only up until time of birth. Zip up: your agenda is showing.....

[vanys-2009]

Does "planned parenthood" help people plan how to have children at taxpayer expense? Do they offer "free" services and supplies to "help" families get on their feet? Do the "free" things free them up to spend their money on drugs, tatoos, piercings and cold beer? I really think these children need help, but it should be from donated funds, not taxpayer funds. Privately run institutions, on donated funds, will likely set some standards the gov't leaders won't! It is not intended that the taxpayers should be responsible to raise children!

[vanys-2009]

Gosh shyk1, I sorta think I have the "right" to do anything I want to! It has nothing to do with government permission. The consequences of exercising my rights are subject to societies rules. Now, the only group I wish to single out is the group that "takes" my tax dollars and promotes irresponsibility. Wisdom dictates we treat the cause not the symptom. Bleeding hearts are rampant and serving no purpose to solve problems. They just throw money and say "ain't it great."