Fueled by Religious Fanaticism, GOP states pushing legal limits in their hatred of Planned Parenthood

By Robert A. Vella

Fueled by a fanatical expression of Christian fundamentalism, Republican-controlled state governments in the U.S. are now testing the legal boundaries of their hatred aimed squarely at the women’s health clinic organization Planned Parenthood.

Immediately after a federal judge ruled this morning that Louisiana must continue funding the clinics for another two weeks in order for the courts to assess Governor Bobby Jindal’s recent defunding efforts, Texas officials announced that it too was cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood.

The timing of the Texas announcement was obviously not coincidental, and it further supports assertions that these attacks on women’s health services are being coordinated at a national level.  Earlier this year, right-wing activists released a highly-edited video misrepresenting Planned Parenthood’s practices in supplying fetal tissue to medical research groups.  In fact, such misinformation tactics have been used repeatedly by the anti-abortion movement in recent years (see also:  How The Right Wing Manufactured A Fake Controversy Over Planned Parenthood’s ‘Infanticide’).

Even more revealing is the fact that Planned Parenthood does not currently perform abortions in Louisiana although it does provide cancer screenings, gynecological exams, and other medical services to low-income residents.