Federal Appeals Court In Louisiana To Tackle Planned Parenthood Issue

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court will review a new Texas rule that prohibits Planned Parenthood groups from participating in a taxpayer-funded program providing health care and family planning services to low-income women.

The state is asking the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to lift an injunction that bars the Texas Health and Human Services Commission from enforcing the rule. A three-judge panel is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday on that request.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott argues the state is entitled to exclude groups affiliated with abortion providers from its federally subsidized Women's Health Program.

Planned Parenthood attorneys say the rule is unconstitutional and would deal a punishing financial blow to dozens of clinics serving roughly half of the more than 100,000 women enrolled in the program.