Despite the fact that investigations in numerous states show that Planned Parenthood has done nothing at all illegal in fetal tissue donation—and the fact that only affiliates in Washington state and California participate in donation of tissue for medical research—Utah and Arkansas have
cut state funding to the clinics in their states, reducing access to health care for women. In addition—reducing the possibility of medical breakthroughs with this research—one biomedical firm targeted in the video hit job by the anti-choice extremist group has ended its contract with Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood affiliates operate in all 50 states, but only three sites in two states—California and Washington—“facilitate the donation of fetal tissue for women who want to help with important medical research on serious diseases,” a spokesperson for the nonprofit told BuzzFeed News.
But that hasn’t stopped a growing number of states from defunding or investigating the organization, with Utah and Arkansas joining the fray on Friday. All investigations into the nonprofit have found them not guilty of illegally profiting from fetal tissue or are ongoing.
“It is apparent that after the recent revelations on the actions of Planned Parenthood, that this organization does not represent the values of the people of our state and Arkansas is better served by terminating any and all existing contracts with them,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a statement announcing his state’s funding cutoff.
Alabama, Louisiana, and New Hampshire have recently ordered similar cuts, citing the allegations made in the Center for Medical Progress videos. […]
So far, of the 12 other states that have opened investigations into Planned Parenthood, five—Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and Florida—have concluded that the nonprofit is in compliance.
The likeliest result in those states is lawsuits, since
the Medicaid law prohibits states from discriminating against any provider by cutting funds to it, unless that provider has committed fraud or illegal acts. Which multiple investigations in multiple states have proven has not happened.
Another likely result? Political backlash. Planned Parenthood remains popular, according to new Reuters/Ipsos polling. Seventy-three percent of people polled think the federal government should be funding women's health, with 69 percent backing federal funding for prenatal services, and 59 percent for contraception. A majority—54 percent—back federal funding for Planned Parenthood specifically. Among those who have actually seen the video, 44 percent have a more negative view of the organization, whereas 34 percent haven't changed their opinion.
The videos aren't having the impact the anti-choice extremists hoped for, outside of Republicans running for president or trying to keep that extremist base happy. To the credit of the traditional media, they seem to have recognized that the videos are deceptively edited and full of misinformation, so they're not making much of a deal of them. That doesn't mean that this fight is going to go away, not when you have Republicans running for president and a handy government shutdown right around the corner.
Comments are closed on this story.