A federal appeals court has unanimously upheld a decision that says a Planned Parenthood defunding law backed by Ohio lawmakers and Gov. John Kasich is unconstitutional.
The law has been on hold since abortion rights advocates filed a lawsuit two years ago. It would allow the Ohio Department of Health to strip $1.5 million in tax funding from Planned Parenthood. Lawmakers say the measure simply steers federal funds intended for women’s health care away from providers that also offer abortions.
A three judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision has agreed with a lower court that said it is unconstitutional to withhold those dollars from Planned Parenthood. The state could ask the full federal court to consider the matter or appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court. There is no word yet on what the state will do.