Judge temporarily preserves federal funds flowing to Planned Parenthood in Utah
A federal judge on Thursday extended a temporary restraining order that bars Utah’s governor from defunding Planned Parenthood in the state.
U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups said a decision would be issued later, but he refused to lift the order that keeps federal funds flowing through the state to Planned Parenthood, report the Associated Press and the Salt Lake Tribune.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert had ordered a stop to $275,000 in federal grant money in an Aug. 14 directive, spurring the Sept. 28 suit by the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. The money is designated for programs targeting sexually transmitted diseases and for sex education programs.
Herbert explained in response to the suit that he issued the order because of the “casualness” and “callousness” depicted in secret videos in which Planned Parenthood officials discussed the use of fetal tissue from abortions in medical research.
Planned Parenthood Association of Utah argues it had nothing to do with the fetal tissue discussions, and the group is being targeted based on its affiliation with the national Planned Parenthood organization. The group also claims it is being targeted for its advocacy for or association with abortion services.
In his Sept. 29 restraining order, Waddoups cited a substantial likelihood Planned Parenthood will be able to prove the funding cutoff violates the group’s rights to equal protection and freedom of association.
