Planned Parenthood has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Alabama, where Gov. Robert Bentley has been working to cut off Medicaid funding to the organization's clinics in the state. The suit was filed in the Montgomery federal court, according to ABC News.
Gov. Bentley said that he was disturbed by the series of videos that have been recently released that accuse Planned Parenthood of selling fetal tissues. Planned Parenthood has denied the allegations made by the videos. At least eight such videos have been released by the Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion group, and four congressional investigations have already been inspired by the videos.
Planned Parenthood is also currently suing Louisiana, where Gov. Bobby Jindal cut funding to the group, The Washington Post reported. Other states where the organization is having problems include New Hampshire and Arkansas, which have taken measures to cut taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. Except for rare cases, taxpayer money does not fund abortions.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department says that federal law prevents states from withholding Medicaid funds from reaching qualified health care providers.
Cecile Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federal of America, said that thousands of people's access to health care will be protected by the lawsuit, according to UPI.
