JEFFERSON CITY — Despite previous rejections by the Missouri Supreme Court, the Republican-controlled House is again trying to defund Planned Parenthood.
In action Tuesday, members of the House General Laws Committee voted 12-4 in favor of a plan to strip the health care provider of any funding through the state’s Medicaid program.
The measure, which was approved with no comment, now goes to full House for further debate. A similar push is underway in the GOP-controlled Senate.
“It shall be unlawful for any public funds to be expended to any abortion facility, or to any affiliate or associate of such abortion facility,†the legislation says.
After being rebuffed by the high court twice in recent years, Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, is sponsoring the latest version of the legislation is an attempt to comply with the judicial rulings.
People are also reading…
Rather than include the defunding language in the state budget, Smith is sponsoring a standalone piece of legislation supporters hope will pass constitutional muster.
Smith is chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee and a candidate for state treasurer.
Action in the committee came less than a week after the Supreme Court sided with a Cole County judge’s ruling that lawmakers cannot use the budgeting process to block Medicaid funding to the health provider, even though abortion is banned in the state.
While the state’s Medicaid program doesn’t reimburse for abortions, Planned Parenthood has previously sought reimbursements for other medical procedures, including cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, and other non-abortion care.
Supporters of defunding Planned Parenthood say its Missouri clinics are affiliated with clinics operating in states where abortion is legal and should not receive money from taxpayers.
The legislation is .