Federal Judge Just Overruled an Ohio Law Defunding Planned Parenthood

Impact

On Friday, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction on an Ohio law designed to inhibit public funds from going toward Planned Parenthood, the Associated Press reported.

https://twitter.com/AP/status/764135248410058752Specifically, the judge mandated the Ohio Department of Health review a Planned Parenthood grant application. 

"That money is mostly federal and supports initiatives that provide HIV tests, cancer screenings and other prevention services," the AP explained.

The law in question, set to take effect in May, sought to bar public funds from supporting organizations that offer abortion services or support.

In 2015, the Republican Party launched an aggressive campaign to defund and effectively dismantle the organization for its abortion services. 

Federal funds do not go toward financing abortions — with the exception of certain cases under Medicaid — and Planned Parenthood reported abortions account for only 3% of its services (though PolitiFact estimated that figure is closer to 12%).