Planned Parenthood is filing a lawsuit after Kansas Governor Sam Brownback blocked Medicaid funding from going to the organization. Brownback first announced the move in January during the State of the State Address. He referenced allegations that Planned Parenthood sold fetal tissue in other states.
“Planned Parenthood’s trafficking of baby body parts is antithetical to our belief in human dignity,” says Brownback.
Officials with Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri have said they don’t take part in tissue donation programs and a state investigation found no wrongdoing on their part. Laura McQuade, with Planned Parenthood, called Brownback's move an attack on people who have the least access to health care.
Medicaid funding can't be used for abortion services. Democratic state Senator Laura Kelly, who serves on the Health Committee, says this will mean a reduction in funding for health care services, such as cervical cancer screenings.
“What they use it for is to provide low-cost or free care for women,” says Kelly.