Texas judge rules ban on state funds for Planned Parenthood unconstitutional

Republican-controlled legislature had attemped to block the women's health group from recieving money from the state
Planned Parenthood rally
A Planned Parenthood rally in Washington, DC. Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images


Fifth circuit judge Jerry Smith agreed Friday that there is sufficient evidence the state's law banning Planned Parenthood from participating in the state's Women's Health Program is unconstitutional. He let stand an injunction blocking Texas from enforcing it.

Smith had stayed the injunction earlier this week so he could review it.

The law passed last year by the Republican-controlled legislature forbids state agencies from providing funds to an organisation affiliated with abortion providers. Eight Planned Parenthood clinics that do not provide abortions sued the state.

Texas officials have said that if the state is forced to include Planned Parenthood, they'll likely shut down the program that serves basic healthcare and contraception to 130,000 poor women.

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