In response to the action by DHS, Angie Remington, public relations manager with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which includes the Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma district, issued a statement calling the governor’s action ” political grandstanding” that could have devastating consequences for women.
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Stem Express, a small company based in northern California, has come under intense scrutiny in the last few weeks after it was caught up in an anti-abortion group’s campaign against Planned Parenthood.
Carson, who has been vocal about his pro-life beliefs amidst the current Planned Parenthood controversy, responded to the accusation by explaining that his role in the research was not studying the fetal tissue.
Carson said that amid all the emotion on abortion and Planned Parenthood, Americans should investigate the organization and its history for themselves.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was the first to cut off funding from the organization, and Mike Reed, Jindal’s spokesman said both the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and the state of Louisiana would uphold their decision regardless of what federal officials say. Following the release of secretly recorded videos by an anti-abortion group, Carson has been condemning Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the donation of fetal tissue after abortions.
The Republican governor on Friday announced the state was terminating its Medicaid provider contract with Planned Parenthood.
“Longstanding Medicaid laws prohibit states from restricting individuals who have coverage through Medicaid from receiving care from a qualified provider”, Lori Lodes, spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said in an email before Hutchinson’s announcement.
The language in the contracts allows either party to cancel the contract at will with 30 days notice.
Holly O’Donnell appeared in the latest Planned Parenthood video released by The Center for Medical Progress.
It took place more than two decades ago.
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Carson has recently made several comments reflecting his opposition to Planned Parenthood. No state funds were used for abortions, except in the case of incest, rape or when the life of the mother was at stake. “While we value our business relationship with Planned Parenthood, that work represents a small percentage of our overall business activity and we must focus our limited resources on resolving these inquiries”.
