Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, June 29, 2011
(UNDATED) - As expected, Indiana has asked a Chicago-based appeals court to reinstate the new state law cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt issued a restraining order Friday to block the law's ban on state funds to organizations which perform abortions.
Attorney General Greg Zoeller argues the law doesn't belong in Pratt's court in the first place.
The state is appealing a Department of Health and Human Services ruling that the law violates Medicaid regulations.
Zoeller says if HHS sticks to its ruling, the next step is an appeal to Chicago's Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals anyway.
The state has argued Planned Parenthood could solve the funding dilemma by creating a spinoff entity to perform abortions, and leave its family-planning services as a separate organization.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana President Betty Cockrum responds there's no assurance the state would accept that arrangement, nor that the legislature wouldn't invalidate it when it returns next year.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.