Indiana House passes bill aimed at limiting use of abortion pill

[Arkansas Granny]

2. The Arkansas legislature has been busy with similar bills this year.

The latest here is an effort to defund Planned Parenthood, which does not provide abortions in the state.


The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the proposal, which would ban the state from awarding grants to entities that perform abortions or abortion referrals. The legislation by Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, would not apply to funding available through the Medicaid program.

Stubblefield said the bill was aimed primarily at cutting off grants Planned Parenthood receives for sex education in Little Rock area schools. Planned Parenthood said it provides information about preventing sexually transmitted diseases to 2,000 people through the grants.

"I don't agree with their goals, and I don't feel like they're doing the best job in terms of educating our youth," Stubblefield said after the vote.

But Planned Parenthood officials warned that the measure would have unintended consequences by cutting off money to any person or entity referring a woman to an abortion provider. The proposal could end research grants to doctors or stop funding to domestic violence shelters if they refer women to abortion providers, the group warned.

More at link: http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/91821/arkansas-legislative-committee-oks-bill-defunding-planned-parenthood