AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A state district judge has issued a temporary restraining order telling Texas not to kick Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program, if they continue to accept federal funds.
In response, state officials said they will launch a new program on Nov. 1 using only state funds and exclude the group.
Planned Parenthood has been fighting a new rule that bans groups affiliated with abortion providers from taking part in a taxpayer-funded program that provides preventive health care and contraception to poor women. State law prohibits taxpayer-funded abortions, but lawmakers also ordered officials to withhold funding from groups what work with abortion providers.
"Unfortunately, people associate Planned Parenthood with abortions, which is a small portion of what we provide," said Mara Posada, a spokeswoman with Planned Parenthood Trust of South Texas.
Gov. Rick Perry issued the following statement:
"... Planned Parenthood has now turned to Travis County judges in a desperate effort to find some way to keep making money off Texas taxpayers. In Texas, we’ve chosen to protect innocent life. We will keep fighting for life, and we will ultimately prevail.”
Posada said Planned Parenthood will request a temporary injunction at Nov. 8 court date.
"It's shameful that the state would rather turn its back on women and not have the program run at all," she said.
