Judge Rules that Missouri Legislators Cannot Cut Planned Parenthood Funding

Last week, a St. Louis judge ruled that the Missouri legislature cannot cut off funding to Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. Lawmakers had sought to block Medicaid funding from going to "any abortion facility" and "any affiliate or associate thereof." Planned Parenthood's attorneys argued that some of its facilities only provide preventive health care and should not be penalized. 

In his ruling, Judge David Dowd said the prohibition of funding couldn't be fully enforced, writing that "eligible individuals are allowed to choose the provider they wish to see and the state is required to pay for those services on behalf of the eligible individual." Governor Mike Parson has stated that although his office is still reviewing Dowd's decision, "we will always defend our position that no state taxpayer dollars should be used to fund abortion."