Utah Gov. Gary Herbert is finding himself playing the hero, after his move to stop Planned Parenthood’s funding in his state has found legal traction.
Conservatives around the country rejoiced when a federal judge ruled Tuesday that Utah can cut off federal funds to the state’s Planned Parenthood organization, a move the Republican governor ordered after the release of secretly recorded videos by an anti-abortion group.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups reversed an earlier decision temporarily ordering the money to keep flowing to the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.
His ruling allows Utah to cut off funds to Planned Parenthood while the organization still pursues its lawsuit against the state.
Like Utah, other states have moved to cut funding to Planned Parenthood chapters. The organization has filed lawsuits in Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana to block them from stripping contracts and federal money distributed by the states.
The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah sued the state in October, arguing Herbert’s move to block the money violated its First Amendment right to advocate for or perform abortions.
Herbert stopped about $275,000 in federal funds for sexually transmitted disease testing and sex education programs. His move followed the release of the undercover videos by a California anti-abortion group. The activists claim the videos show Planned Parenthood officials in Texas and other states discussing fetal tissue from abortions.
The Utah group is affiliated with other Planned Parenthood entities “that have allegedly engaged in illegal conduct,” Waddoups said in his ruling.
The judge said Utah’s government has an interest “in avoiding the appearance of corruption,” and any harm from ending the contracts is outweighed by the risk to the state if it’s denied its right to end contracts at will.
Allowing the contracts to continue, Waddoups said, could reasonably be perceived by Utah citizens as approval of wrongful conduct.
In a statement Tuesday, Herbert said he appreciated the judge’s ruling and that it recognized his power to make contract decisions on Utah’s behalf.
Herbert said he will work with the state’s health department and others to ensure that residents still have access to the STD and sex education services.
Herbert has said he was offended by the callousness of the discussion shown on the videos.
Utah’s move to cut off funding followed similar moves against Planned Parenthood chapters in other states.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Good for the governor. Rare today to see a politician take a stand.
Let the USers of Planned Parenthood fund them! Bet that would end planned parenthood right now because why use my own money when the tax payers will provide. No Choices here! Good for this Man that has stood up for his state! Should have been defunded but as we well know another fight for another day, Thanks Paul Ryan!!
Your spot on, have them pay for things they want NOT US
I am saying the same for all the perpetual wars…………….
I don’t want these wars, you send your children and fund them.
We in the Republic of Texas are waiting with baited breath. We already defunded all state funding of Planned Parenthood after these videos. We also put up some restrictions of our own. Before a woman can get an abortion, she much go through her own federally funded insurance–which as far as I know is Obamacare or Medicare and most Medicare services go to seniors–or use her own dime. But her own dime or not, she still HAS TO BE LAW 1) Watch her baby in her stomach for 90 full minutes, giving the baby time to sleep, turn around to get comfy, or just sucking its thumb. This proves one thing, that is a child, not a blob of tissue as Planned Parenthood would love you to believe. and she has to 2) Go home AFTER she has watched the video and think about it for 4 full days! We have also cut the bureaucratic red tape for adoptions, instead of years, it only take months now, and women have now more places where they can stay during their pregnancy if they are certain they were not made up to be Moms, and that is OK, we do understand not every woman wants or desires to be mothers, but that does not give them the right to end another’s life who could be raised by other parents who would love nothing more than to have that child. And yes, yes, I have heard the same BS coming from Planned Parenthood that came in the ’70’s, just more song and dance, different generation. It has to be up to the states, for it will be nearly 25 more years they will spend fighting over it. We got it done before the last video. And sure enough, we caught one abortionist still doing abortions and taking the bludgeoned souls he stole to the local stem cell location. An abortionist does not stay around the office doing paperwork until after midnight, and we knew that if they could not get their money flow that way, there had to be another way of them getting it and sure enough. We didn’t just catch him, we are now in the process of going through their records and auditing them, for when Texas cut the Planned Parenthood clinics, abortions went up. There was only one way that could happen, fudging the books. So it looks like they may be paying our Republic off for many years in the future, if not behind bar cells. I went to a seminar where 15 distinguished scientists spoke about how not one cancer was stilled, not one disease was cured by the years of these child cells being sold. Not one! Then what they Hell are they doing with them…you got it right, Nazi-like experiments, injecting baby cells into rat’s brains! Well, at least I would rather have these sickos in prison that out at large. For if they did not have any other way to use their distorted reasoning, they would be out in the open doing no telling what. Sadists, when one trip is over, often take another more sinister one.
It seems these tactics by the states work for a while until the liberals find a liberal activist judge to overturn the rulings and they always seem to find a few willing to allow the dirty work to continue. What I don’t understand is why black women in particular can’t seem to understand that PP was the brain child of Margret Sanger and it was her intention to eliminate black people from society. How can they be so stupid?
Maxx,
Planned Parenthood does much more for poor women.
Their doctors are primary care doctors, they examine women, they do blood work,
they do gynecological examinations, they refer these women to specialists, they
write prescriptions, they dispense low cost or free medications and the list goes
on.
Are you going to deny these women medical care that they must have just because
they are poor? If so, shame on you. I want my tax money to go for their health care.
…and let the Mormons, Hispanics, Muslims, and Porch-Monkeys continue their prolific spawn of welfare babies, whether by multiple-, or no-marriages. I wonder if Joe Smith and Brigham Young would agree.
Yes I’d say Utah’s Gov. Gary Herbert is a keeper. The people of Utah elected one of the true, God loving Christian American patriots to be their leader.
NOW THERE IS A TRUE AMERICAN. GOD BLESS.YOU MAY HAVE SAVED MANY MANY LIVES
Gov. Herbert disgusts me.
He needs to get his nose out of women’s Health Care.
50% of the voters in Utah are women, good luck in the
next election Herbert.
Why is the right to have someone pay for an abortion a woman’s right? I have no objection to you or any other woman choosing to get an abortion. In fact, I feel completely supportive of your right to pay for medical services and treatments being performed upon your body. In fact, I also support your right to voluntarily and directly pay for this type of medical service being performed upon the body of any woman that chooses to have it done to them. I only object to you or your colleagues using the power of the state to extract my money from me to have this service performed upon you or anyone else. There’s a difference between the general welfare and the payment of services by a government for the direct benefit of one individual, and your advocacy crosses that line to the dark side.
i’M WITH YOU 100%
DITTO
While I do NOT agree with abortion I really am against be forced to pay for others health procedures!!!!
Remember all will be judged according to their deeds while alive on the earth—–ponder that before you murder!!!!!
Bravo! Only other suggest I can offer if some still want us taxpayers to fund planned parent hood is do sterilization at the same time. .
Keep abortions legal regardless of situation. If she is a victim of rape, have the cheapest pay for procedures. If it’s a medical reason, have insurance pay for it. If it is because she just knows she would not be a fit parent or whatever…pay out of your own pocket. But don’t bring us back to the days of botched up self
Abortion.
planned parenthood should include condoms, birth control pills, pulling out or keeping one’s knees together. Not abortions.
Well you will be the fool if you don’t back him, we as women should be first in line to stop planned parenthood, there is no way a woman should need a abortion but if you are that easy than get yourself fixed or pay for it yourself not and I mean Not Tax payers money, should never be used for such a thing.
The governor is not meddling in women’s health issues. He’s blocking funding to an organization which appears to have carried out immoral and illegal acts, the trafficking of fetal body parts and tissues. At least one of their doctors has also been convicted of killing a baby after birth, which is murder. Can you tell us how the sale of fetal body parts relates to women’s health?
The governor said he would work with the Health Department to guarantee that health testing is made available. When I look at my wonderful grandchildren what disgusts me is the thought that a mother could decide to deny life to her unborn child even after the point when the child could experience pain. Mothers who go for prenatal care and take every precaution know that it’s their baby they are carrying not a tumor or clump of tissue.
Abortion is murder, no matter how you look at it. If I’d had one every time a doctor said my life “was in danger” I’d have 4 children less today. And no, I didn’t raise them on welfare! I worked 2 jobs to support them. Back in the 60’s the law didn’t go after dead-beat dads. After our divorce he supported another woman’s kids!! But my kids are all productive members of society today!!!
I’m a woman, infertile, what right do you have to tell me the child that is murdered is no wanted. Planed Parenthood are lyers. All brand new cars are cheaper than the process of adoption. I’m a real woman. I also vote I’m proud in Idaho we have pro-life government officials. If the Mormons cause this good; I’m not one but the science is on my side. Also is the taxpayers right in paying for murder? To us pro-lifeers, you “pro-choicers” are doing just that.
When you killers take the life of a baby what do you tell the children that you already have?
Oh we did not want your sibling so we had it pulled into pieces and sold for experiments
So why are taxpayers having to pay for those having sex outside of a marriage to have test and treatment for their lifestyle choice? America’s leaders are rewarding those that live without God or any morals for their behavior at the expense of those that choose not to live in sin. Christian leaders need the same advocates the muslims obviously have. They come to America and tell our leaders they are not going to live under our law but under the sharia law. They are forcing vendors to have pagan gods pray over their food and we as Christians are eating it unless it is marked so we can read it .There are places in America a non muslim is not allowed. WHOA non of this sounds real. As it was in the day of Noah so shall it be when the son of man returns. GET READY!!
Marcie Bernstein: Obviously you’re a lib and you’re welcomed to your opinion. But I’m NOT in favor of aborting babies and selling their body parts. I’ve always loved visiting Utah; the state is SO breathtaking…..Now I’m thinking seriously of MOVING out of this ULTRA LIB East Coast…….and Utah would fit me just FINE !!! KUDOS to the Governor !!
To the numbskulls from Planned Parenthood: The act of the State of Utah to cut off your funding does not, in any way, prevent you from yapping about your right to perform abortions. Just like the fact that the State of Utah doesn’t give me money doesn’t in any way prevent me from saying you are slimy murderers. Freedom of speech does not cost anything to exercise; that’s why it is an inherent right of all of us.
As for preventing you from performing your dirty deeds: You can still perform those, unfortunately. It would just make sense that you do the right thing: Collect your money from the people who enjoy the benefit. In other words, I’ll put this in pure capitalist language for you: Have your customers pay for the services rendered, instead of a third party paying for it.
Kevin is right
Finally…A politician who is willing to stand up for what is right rather than for what is politically correct. This nation needs a lot more like him. Thank you, Governor! Keep up the good work.
Stand Up for the Babies without a voice. Murder is Murder doesn’t matter the age.
God bless him.
One small step for “Man (& Woman)”…One great leap for “Man (& Woman)-Kind. And their “Kinderleibe”!
Thank God for one Governor who takes a strong stand for righteousness. It;s high time that all true Christians take a strong stand against the evils of the wicked world and that we STAND UP, SPEAK UP, AND TELL THEM TO SHUT UP!
OK. The “ladies” have fun, get pregnant an WE paid for the abortion, because “woman” can choose what to do with their bodies.
Well, I CHOOSE to get drunk..and no body want to paid for my lawyer .I will go to jail, and no body cares. But I CHOOSE to get drunk, same way the woman choose to have sex, and maybe get paid for. I choose to get drunk because is MY BODY and I paid my money to get drunk. Some one help me with a good answer. I be waiting.
Good for the Governor! Leadership in Washington is dead. Nada for hope. Zilch for change. Mr McConnell, Mr Ryan… both zombies… cadavers acting like they were alive, passing that omnibus bill. They should resign, or have the decency to change their political party affiliation to Democrat.
Great job Governor Herbert you are a true hero. I have never wanted my tax $ to be given to planned parenthood. They are Godless inhuman losers with no feeling for the unborn. Abortion is murder &my tax $ pays for.
Excellent news, good for this State Governor. During past generations many a great person has been born into poverty and deprivation -indeed Christ was such an example- yet the world has greatly benefited from their lives: today with free abortion easily available the likelihood is that many of them will be killed in the womb: not because they have some quality of life destroying disablement but because their mother decided she’d much rather put an end to their embryonic lives. In Britain -as with much of Europe- with a free at the point of need NHS the figure frequently quoted for abortions is around 200,000 per annum. An absolutely shocking decimation of life – this refusal to pay for abortions other than protects the mother’s life should be adopted everywhere.
Wow, the vitriol, hatred and willful ignorance run deep here. Considering that the videos were faked, edited, and mangled out of recognition, and considering that THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MEDICAL TREATMENT PROVIDED to Planned Parenthood patients has nothing – NOTHING to do with abortion, only one conclusion is possible. You guys are insane. WIllfully ignorant, ineffably stupid, and probably succored on Rush and Faux Gnus for all of your misinformation. Probably support Trump, too.
You start off great but then your comments are just as hateful and ignorant as those you attack. The issue really isn’t about the videos whether real or doctored. The real issue is the sanctity of human life in a society where life doesn’t always matter. Can you really say that an unborn child who can feel pain is not human? And the body parts harvested and sold by Planned Parenthood came from what? (I know they’ve agreed to stop taking money for the body parts). Just think what our society would be like if all human life was treated as sacred from the baby in the womb to the homeless to those who fill our prisons to those who suffer from mental illness to those who suffer addictions of every sort. It would be a much better place.
It’s about time someone stood up to them, Now if only more of them would grow a set we may get somewhere
Right on !!!!
If they should have to start up again, God forbid, I think that they should be required to account for every fetus and on a periodic basis they would be turned over to the county coroner. He would then, using some of the planned parenthood money, cause then to be buried in a cemetery, in a common grave, with a headstone saying just “Unwanted aborted children”.
The other real issue is whether, people think or are brainwashed. I find it insulting when I’m classified an pro-choice just because I’m a woman. I hope enough Utah women are too.
REAL SIMPLE LESS ABORTIONS MEAN MORE WELFARE WHAT A BUNCH OF MORONS
Bravo, where can I sign petition for Natl defunding alone.
Alas CA wont submit to same hope 30 other states will.
Finally, a voice of reason in the political wilderness.
I wish all governors make a move to defeat every legislation this liberals got away
May GOD Jehovah bless Governor Herbert and that Federal Judge cutting off Margaret sanger and her roundtable groups baby planned parenthood!! This is long, long over due!!
Simper Fi!