Arizona Bans Funding for Planned Parenthood

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law late Friday a bill that bans state or local governments from transferring taxpayer funds to any organizations that performs abortions. The move comes after Brewer approved a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks, reports the Arizona Republic.

Planned Parenthood of Arizona officials have said the bill directly targets them and the non-abortion services they provide to the vast majority of women who seek assistance from the organization. Six other states have similar laws, although three (Indiana, Kansas, and North Carolina) are currently facing legal challenges, reports Reuters.

Although Arizona already forbids using public funds to pay for abortions, unless the life of the mother is at risk, supporters of the new law say it is needed to prevent taxpayer money from indirectly supporting abortion services, notes the Associated Press.

Brewer called it “a common-sense law that tightens existing state regulation” adding that “I stand with the majority of Americans who oppose the use of taxpayer funds for abortion.”

Also on Friday, a federal appeals court ruled that Texas can’t ban Planned Parenthood from receiving state funds until a lower court hears a case arguing that a state law passed last year is unconstitutional, reports the Los Angeles Times.