Power

Indiana Defunds Planned Parenthood, NARAL Responds

Indiana becomes the first state to totally defund the health care provider.

Despite the fact that it will cost the state millions of dollars in additional funding, Indiana legislature passed a bill to defund Planned Parenthood in the state. Now, all wait to see if Governor Mitch Daniels will keep his word on what he previously called a social issues “truce” or if he will sign the bill into law.

Reuters reports:

Planned Parenthood of Indiana issued a statement calling on Daniels to veto what it called “one of the worst pieces of public health legislation in Indiana’s history.”

The organization said that the provision could cost the state about $4 million in Medicaid federal family planning funds — impacting other family planning providers besides Planned Parenthood.

Republican Representative Mark Messmer, who supports the bill, said he did not believe it would cause a loss of federal funding.

Also greatly disappointed in the Indiana legislators was NARAL Pro-Choice America, who released the following statement:

“Gov. Mitch Daniels will now be forced to decide whether to put his presidential ambitions above thousands of Hoosier women who would lose access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other basic health care. Despite his solidly anti-choice record, Daniels said that lawmakers should declare a truce on social issues and focus on the economy.  Now, voters will see whether he will follow his own advice.”

Daniels is said to be reviewing the law.