By Sandy Cunningham, Louisiana Right to Life
In late October, U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelle ordered the state to continue using taxpayer dollars to fund Planned Parenthood. On Nov. 4, the state Department of Health and Hospitals appealed that decision to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the appeal, saying the state has the authority to determine which organizations are qualified Medicaid providers, and for multiple reasons “Planned Parenthood is not qualified to do business in our state.”
Jindal said the state will continue to fight to terminate Planned Parenthood’s contracts with Louisiana.
In response to the state’s decision to appeal the ruling, Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper issued the following statement:
“We appreciate Gov. Jindal and his administration for their continued efforts to ensure that Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business with a history of selling the body parts of aborted babies, does not receive anymore taxpayer money in Louisiana.
“As we have shown, there are Medicaid-eligible alternative provider in place in New Orleans and Baton Rouge to provide the services that Planned Parenthood offers. In addition, our research has shown that Planned Parenthood’s claim that there are long wait times for services is a myth. Louisiana does not need Planned Parenthood.”
