House Approves Planned Parenthood Defund Bill, Federal Judge Reinstates Arkansas Contract

Arkansas’ four United States Representatives voted with the majority Friday to defund Planned Parenthood for at least a year while congressional committees look into questions involving the use of fetal tissue.

The House voted 241-187 on HR 3134, the defunding bill, which now heads to the Senate.

The House also approved a bill by a 248-177 margin on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The bill, HR 3504, would also tighten restrictions on abortion doctors who break the law on the protection of infants, The Hill reported Friday.

All four House members – Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, French Hill, R-Little Rock, Steve Womack, R-Rogers, and Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, voted yes on both bills.

The defund bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate, while the Senate is expected to take up the abortion bill next week.

Meanwhile, a federal judge late Friday granted a 14-day stay to block the cancellation of the state’s Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood, content partner KATV reported.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on Friday granted Planned Parenthood of the Heartland’s request to block for 14 days the state from denying funding to the organization. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson last month announced he was terminating the contract.

The state’s cancellation of the contract took effect Sunday, and Planned Parenthood says it would have affected Medicaid patients scheduled to visit its health centers starting Sept. 21.

Supporters of Planned Parenthood in Arkansas have said that their group provides health care for women who may not be able to afford it and that the cancelation of the Medicaid contract would harm women at a vulnerable time.

Gov. Hutchinson issued a statement late Friday saying, “As governor, I disagree with the Court’s decision. Ethical conduct by Medicaid providers is a relevant factor for the state to consider. Hopefully, the Court or a higher court will reconsider the preliminary decision once the facts are fully developed. It is disappointing that a judge appointed by President Obama does not give sufficient weight to the morally repugnant conduct of Planned Parenthood displayed in a series of recently released videos.”