Tag Archives: Planned Parenthood

Fifth Circuit does it again

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another terrible ruling by a terrible judge on a terrible court. A federal appeals court has lifted a lower court order that blocked Texas from booting Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid, potentially imperiling the health care provider’s participation in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Planning to fail

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Big surprise. Anti-abortion activist Carol Everett had no experience running a family planning program when the state of Texas awarded her millions in taxpayer funds to help rebuild a network of low-income women’s health providers. The state knew that. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas’ maternal mortality rate not as bad as previously reported

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good news, if a bit puzzling. Several of the state’s top health experts released a report in the medical journal Obstetrics & Gynecology on Monday showing that by using the new method, the number of women who died dropped from … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas’ maternal mortality rate not as bad as previously reported

Another national publication looks at CD07

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mother Jones, come on down. In addition to [Laura] Moser, the top competitors for the March primary are first-time candidates with stories that fit the political moment in different ways. Lizzie Fletcher, a well-connected lawyer at a large downtown firm, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another national publication looks at CD07

Yet another lawsuit filed over yet another unconstitutional anti-abortion law

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Texas is heading to court over a state law going into effect in September banning the most common second-trimester abortion procedure. The Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood announced on Thursday … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Yet another lawsuit filed over yet another unconstitutional anti-abortion law

State seeks Medicaid money it gave up over Planned Parenthood ban

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Four years after Texas gave up millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funds so it could ban Planned Parenthood from participating in a family planning program for low-income women, the state is asking the Trump administration for the money … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State seeks Medicaid money it gave up over Planned Parenthood ban

Winning the battles but losing the war

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the story of reproductive rights, and access to reproductive health care in general, in Texas. “We have made tremendous gains,” said Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life. He hopes that someday, perhaps under Trump, the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Winning the battles but losing the war

Video fraudsters in trouble again

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

In California this time. California prosecutors on Tuesday charged two anti-abortion activists who made undercover videos of themselves trying to buy fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood with 15 felonies, saying they invaded the privacy of medical providers by filming without … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

This is why you leave women’s health to the professionals

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Because amateurs and zealots do a lousy job. In pushing a replacement for the Affordable Care Act that cuts off funds for Planned Parenthood, Republicans are out to reassure women who rely on the major health care organization that other … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on This is why you leave women’s health to the professionals

Texas cannot bar Planned Parenthood from Medicaid

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ruled Tuesday afternoon that Texas clinics affiliated with Planned Parenthood can continue to care for patients under the state’s Medicaid program, a phew-worthy victory for reproductive rights advocates and a loss for the state’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Planned Parenthood still in Medicaid

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

For now, pending judgment. U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks on Thursday delayed Planned Parenthood’s ouster from the state’s Medicaid program until Feb. 21. […] During closing arguments Thursday hearing, attorneys from both sides cited clips from the video. Sparks … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Planned Parenthood still in Medicaid

Here we go again with Planned Parenthood and Medicaid

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Rooting for another injunction. Texas officials are back in federal court this week over abortion-related policy, this time to defend efforts to oust Planned Parenthood from Medicaid. Planned Parenthood has asked U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks to block the ouster … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Here we go again with Planned Parenthood and Medicaid

Back to court for Planned Parenthood

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. Planned Parenthood late Friday asked a federal judge in Austin to block plans by Texas officials to kick the organization out of Medicaid. Calling state plans “nothing more than a politically motivated witch hunt,” Planned Parenthood … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Back to court for Planned Parenthood

Texas follows through on threat to pull Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More than a year after the initial threat was made. Clearly, you can’t rush these things. After more than a year of delays, Texas is officially kicking Planned Parenthood out of the state’s Medicaid program. In a move that could … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas follows through on threat to pull Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood

“Fetal remains” rule goes into effect

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Cue up that next lawsuit. Texas’ proposed rules requiring the cremation or burial of fetal remains will take effect Dec. 19, according to state health officials. Despite intense outcry from the medical community and reproductive rights advocates, the state will … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why are so many pregnant women dying in Texas?

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Better yet, what are we going to do about it? The rate of Texas women dying of pregnancy-related causes nearly doubled from 2010 to 2014, with the state seeing more than 600 such deaths in the four-year span. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Auditor asked to investigate Heidi Group health care grant

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The left-leaning nonprofit Progress Texas is asking the state auditor’s office to investigate a $1.6 million state contract awarded to an anti-abortion group under the state’s new Healthy Texas Women program. […] The Heidi Group does not currently provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas finds a new way to be hostile to women’s health

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like it must be someone’s job somewhere to come up with stuff like this. A group led by an anti-abortion advocate appears to be one of the largest recipients of state funding from the “Healthy Texas Women” program, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

More on the “fetal remains” rule change

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s stupid, harmful, unnecessary, expensive, and almost certainly in violation of the SCOTUS ruling in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt. But other than that, no biggie. In the aftermath of a car accident in 2014, Denee Booker was told by … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the “fetal remains” rule change

Harris County DA drops charges against video fraudsters

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Disappointing, to say the least. Criminal charges against the anti-abortion activists behind undercover recordings of a Houston Planned Parenthood facility were dismissed Tuesday. David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, the videographers who infiltrated Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, had been charged with … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What do you get when you cut off funds for HIV testing?

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

You get no HIV testing, of course. When Texas abruptly ended its $600,000 HIV prevention contract with Planned Parenthood’s Houston affiliate in late December, state health officials promisedthat there would be no interruption in services. The Department of State Health … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Misdemeanor charge dropped against video fraudster Daleiden

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Just the misdemeanor charge, not the felony. A Harris County judge has dropped one of the criminal charges against an anti-abortion activist who was indicted after making undercover recordings of a Houston Planned Parenthood facility. David Daleiden, one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Use of abortion pill rises

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Until the Lege reconvenes, anyway. There’s been a sharp increase in the number of Texas women who are using the abortion pill to end their pregnancies now that federal officials have eased restrictions on the drug, according to officials at … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Use of abortion pill rises

Video fraudsters to go to trial

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

All righty then. David Robert Daleiden, 27, and his colleague, Sandra Susan Merritt, 63, both of California, have rejected a plea deal that would have effectively put an end to the criminal charges against them, their lawyers confirmed Friday. “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Two Medicaid stories

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the Trib: State health officials confirmed Tuesday they have asked the Obama administration to keep a 15-month lifeline of federal Medicaid money flowing into Texas to help hospitals treat uninsured patients. That money would offer temporary relief to health care providers who face losing … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s a conspiracy!

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, noes! Planned Parenthood is in cahoots with the Harris County DA! Run for your lives! The anti-abortion activist accused of falsifying records to secretly videotape Planned Parenthood officials in Houston is accusing the Harris County district attorney’s office of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s a conspiracy!

More troubles for the Planned Parenthood video fraudsters

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Investigators with the California Department of Justice on Tuesday raided the home of David Daleiden, the anti-abortion activist behind a series of undercover videos targeting Planned Parenthood, the activist said. Authorities seized a laptop … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, National news | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More troubles for the Planned Parenthood video fraudsters

Local Planned Parenthood joins lawsuit against the video fraudsters

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A Texas-based Planned Parenthood affiliate on Thursday moved to join a federal lawsuit filed in California against the anti-abortion group behind undercover videos of the organization’s clinics. The lawsuit, filed in a San Francisco-based federal court in January, alleges … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Local Planned Parenthood joins lawsuit against the video fraudsters

How much more “undue” does it need to be?

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

HB2 is doing exactly what it was intended to do. A new report released Thursday shows Texas abortion patients traveled farther for services and experienced higher out-of-pocket costs following the closure of more than half of the state’s legal abortion … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How much more “undue” does it need to be?

Oral arguments before SCOTUS on HB2

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From Texas Monthly: It’s been a circuitous journey for HB2, the omnibus abortion bill the Texas Legislature passed 2013. Suits have been filed, the law has been overturned, appeals have been made. A collection of Texas abortion clinics, led by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SCOTUS to hear HB2 oral arguments

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the big one. Before Wendy Davis took to the floor of the Texas Senate for an 11-hour filibuster that ultimately failed to stop sweeping new restrictions on abortion, there was Casey. Shorthand for Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on SCOTUS to hear HB2 oral arguments

Federal judge smacks video fraudsters

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s gonna leave a mark. In a sharp rebuke, a federal judge on Friday issued a preliminary injunction ordering abortion opponents not to release videos they had secretly made at meetings of abortion providers, and he added that the opponents’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Federal judge smacks video fraudsters

The easily predicted results of de-funding Planned Parenthood have resulted as predicted

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Who’d a thunk it? A new study released Wednesday reports that after anti-abortion Texas lawmakers blocked Planned Parenthood from participating in the Texas Women’s Health Program (TWHP) in 2013, fewer low-income women received the most effective kinds of contraception. The study, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The easily predicted results of de-funding Planned Parenthood have resulted as predicted

Video fraudsters offered probation

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

First the one, on Wednesday. A California woman charged last week for her role in the production of undercover videos at a Houston Planned Parenthood clinic will be offered probation, a Harris County prosecutor said in court. Sandra Susan Merritt, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments