Neb., Tenn. defund Planned Parenthood

By Samantha Gobba - Posted at Baptist Press:

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Nebraska and Tennessee this month joined more than a dozen states that have cut funding for abortion providers like Planned Parenthood, a pro-life campaign that has seen mixed results.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts approved a budget that prohibits Title X funding from going to abortion providers, directing $1.9 million toward centers that neither refer for nor perform abortions.

Planned Parenthood criticized the move, saying it would "block health care" for at least 8,000 people. But Nebraska Right to Life director Julie Schmit-Albin said the law will prevent "illegal melding of Title X funds to support abortion activities."

Use of federal funds to perform abortions or to fund entities that perform abortions is prohibited by federal law, but Planned Parenthood claims it uses its $60 million in Title X funding and $390 million in Medicaid reimbursements for other services. In part because of that claim, many states' efforts to direct Medicaid or Title X funding away from the abortion giant are tied up in court battles.
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