AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas judge is scheduled to decide whether Planned Parenthood may continue providing check-ups and birth control under the Women's Health Program.
State officials plan to enforce a law on Jan. 1 that bans organizations that support abortion rights from receiving state funds. Planned Parenthood has asked for a restraining order to allow the group to continue treating 48,000 of the 110,000 poor women in the program.
Republican lawmakers who passed the law want to shut down Planned Parenthood in Texas and say the state has an anti-abortion policy. Federal officials cut funding to the state because they say the law violates the Social Security Act, forcing state officials to find the money to run their own program.
Planned Parenthood doctors and patients say the law violates their constitutional rights.
