Culp-Ressler reports: "Following the Arizona legislature's most recent anti-choice crusade, this is the second recent lawsuit to be filed against the state over radical anti-abortion legislation."

Members of Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America and more than 20 other organizations hold a rally in support of preventive healthcare and family planning services, including abortion. (photo: Reuters)

Planned Parenthood Sues Arizona for Trying to Defund Health Clinics

By Tara Culp-Ressler, ThinkProgress

23 July 12

lanned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the state of Arizona on Monday in an attempt to overturn HB 2800, which restricts funding for its health clinics. Under the bill, individuals who are eligible for Medicaid may not seek health services at Planned Parenthood because the organization also performs abortions - a tactic to defund Planned Parenthood clinics. Conservatives have used this attack in 13 states across the country this past year.

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) signed HB 2800 into law this May, and it will go into effect on August 2 unless Planned Parenthood's efforts are successful. Under the law, nearly 3,000 Medicaid patients who currently receive birth control and other preventive care at Planned Parenthood clinics will no longer be eligible for services there. Of course, low-income women who are eligible for Medicaid are often the population that most benefits from access to affordable preventative care at health clinics like Planned Parenthood.

In a press release from earlier today, Planned Parenthood Arizona's President and CEO Bryan Howard expressed concern about Arizona's push to deny low-income women access to his organization's health services:

HOWARD: It is wrong for the state to tell Arizonans who they can and cannot see for their health care. The men and women of this state have the right to see the health care provider they deem is best for them. [...] It is unfortunate that our state and its lawmakers continue to put ideology and politics before the welfare of Arizonans. Women and men who come to Planned Parenthood aren't making a political statement, they are coming to the get the health care they need from the provider they choose.

Following the Arizona legislature's most recent anti-choice crusade, this is the second recent lawsuit to be filed against the state over radical anti-abortion legislation. Last week, three doctors - represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arizona, and the Center for Reproductive Rights - sued Arizona over HB 2036, which has been widely considered the most extreme abortion ban in the nation because it criminalizes almost all abortions after just 20 weeks. Brewer signed HB 2036 into law this April.

Arizona is one of 26 states that the Guttmacher Institute considers "hostile to abortion rights." Arizona's two bills are in addition to the 37 other new laws restricting women's access to abortion services that have been introduced in the first half of this year alone.

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-24 # The Voice of Reason 2012-07-23 13:30

What is the abortion rate in the US? I have heard 20 per 1,000 women, which is 2%. Let's see ... 150 m females times 2% is 3 million abortions, I'm sorry, pro-choice decision each year. I don't think these were all medically necessary operations.

Wow! Speaking of where has the sexual revolution led us, this is alarming.

But not surprising. Any comments ... besides these kids would just grow up in poverty or be sent to war. Could somebody comment about how maybe we're using the sex impulse for the wrong reasons.

+11 # coach777b 2012-07-24 05:54

"I don't think these were all medically necessary operations."
In which year of your medical school curriculum, did you acquire enough wisdom to reach Such a conclusion? At least 150 women and you examined them, revied thir medical history and came to this conclusion? Amateur medical professionals, such as yourself, just add fuel to the fire. The control of a woman's body is between her and her doctor. Who allowed you into that equation?

-5 # The Voice of Reason 2012-07-24 13:56

The same year you did.

Are you saying there are no targeted or convenience abortions? I didn't think so. The figures are alarming, and people need to get to the bottom of why there is such a need for abortions.

Abortions, like pregnancies, are preventable, but the prevailing attitude is that anyone can have sex with anyone at any time. That is what my question is about: where has all this free sex led us. Are we a more enlightened society, or are we merely pandering to base impulses, and hang the consequences.

If you want the government to fund abortions, then citizens have the right to enter the discussion. I'm not kicking you out, who are you to kick me out?

+3 # JJS 2012-07-25 02:23

"Abortions, like pregnancies, are preventable,...."

And if you restrict access to birth control and other reproductive service, like AZ and 25 other States are pushing for, you increase the likelihood of an unwanted pregnancy.

This is not a matter of gov't funding for abortions it is about equal access to healthcare. Abortion is a legal procedure.

+2 # RLF 2012-07-25 04:06

"Abortions, like pregnancies, are preventable" Now this is just stupid. You would know if you had ever looked at the paper work that comes with your condoms or other BC that they are only effective 99% or so at the time. What about those unfortunates where it doesn't work? You think they should just bite the bullet and allow it to screw up the rest of their lives...and that is just dumb. Maybe you think that they should not have sex...that puts you squarely in a camp...the Christian, butthole, moronic, thoughtless, camp...and I say piss off!

+3 # mdhome 2012-07-24 06:48

Lets see your proof. One thing, 150 million females, probably 50 million are post menopause 2. 40 million are under the age of sexual relation,and 3. the idea women get an abortion every 5 years is just nuts. 4 lets say if your figures are right there would be another 3 million new persons added to the population each year, mostly to go on welfare or end up in a life of crime or homeless as there are not enough jobs for our current population, Is that a good thing?

-2 # The Voice of Reason 2012-07-24 14:02

So ... maybe we should fix poverty and crime is what I'm saying. That is a lot more humane and socially conscious than aborting 1 mil fetuses every year so they don't have to grow up homeless.

Search the internet and tell me if you find more accurate figures. I saw the figure range upwards to 68 per 1000.

Do we value human life, or do we want to continue this empty, pointless existence.

0 # JJS 2012-07-31 17:51

and 5 it is none of anyone's GD business what a woman does with her body. If she does not want to risk her health to take a pregnancy to term she has the Constitutional right to abort the fetus.
PERIOD!
And she has every right to access healthcare benefits/subsid ies otherwise afforded to men and women in any other healthcare situation.
As far as I'm concerned from a healthcare viewpoint it is like removing a parasite!

0 # RLF 2012-07-25 04:01

I disagree with you but you do have a point. Our society has become hypersexualized and because we have a government which is incapable of any constructive thought, we get no thoughts on this subject other than the stupidity of making the victim (the pregnant woman) pay for the crime. Let's try to find a solution which is something other than this simple minded stupidity that we get as politics in the US at the present.

+25 # freeportguy 2012-07-23 14:54

State Goverment getting between women and their care giver...?

+9 # mdhome 2012-07-24 06:51

The republican desire for small government is a lie, they want to control every aspect of your personal life. Is there not any aspect of your private life they will not control.

+2 # RLF 2012-07-25 04:08

We just need a radio speaker in each of our homes giving us the party line! Seems like that is where we're going!

+11 # railroadmike 2012-07-24 00:35

Maybe it's about time to start filing manslaughter charges on these politicians when our frinds and relatives die due to crooked insurance policys ie: pre existing conditions and closing health care centers.

+3 # chrisconnolly 2012-07-24 12:19

Why if Az is so concerned about preventing killing aren't they trying to control gun ownership? It seems they only want to control women and every part of our lives. That's right, guns don't kill people, just the idiots who want to use them indiscriminantl y.

+1 # ABen 2012-07-26 08:49

Watching the current AZ legislature work (lose use of term) is much like having an out-of-body experience. This state has a long Libertarian tradition that has been temporarily hijacked by a cadre of knee-jerk (emphasis on "jerk") Teabaggers. The movement back to a more Libertarian center has already started, and this Long-time AZ resident is happy to see that movement back toward sanity.

0 # JJS 2012-07-31 17:42

Onward they go trying to restrict women in DC from getting appropriate health care.

From WAPO
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/dc-late-term-abortion-ban-fails-in-the-house/2012/07/31/gJQAUzunNX_blog.html

"House lawmakers voted 220 to 154 to pass the bill, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the measure under the suspension of normal rules. ....
The bill, authored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), would prohibit abortions in the District except to protect the life of the mother after 20 weeks of pregnancy, under the theory that fetuses are capable of experiencing pain beyond that point. The medical community is divided on that question."

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