Federal judge blocks Florida law to end abortion clinic funding
Source: Reuters
Politics | Fri Jul 1, 2016 1:12pm EDT
Federal judge blocks Florida law to end abortion clinic funding
TAMPA, FLA. | BY LETITIA STEIN
A federal judge has blocked parts of a new Florida law aiming to cut off state funding for preventive health services at clinics that also provide abortions, acting shortly before the restrictions took effect on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction late on Thursday after state Planned Parenthood affiliates challenged certain provisions as unconstitutional.
Hinkle found the clinics were unacceptably targeted by state efforts to eliminate funding for other healthcare services they also provide, such as birth control and screening for cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.
"The states only beef is that the plaintiffs provide abortions," he wrote, noting that Florida already prohibits funding for abortions, as courts have held permissible.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-abortion-idUSKCN0ZH5I3