Progress: Federal Judge Strikes Down Arizona’s Anti-Abortion Law

Legislation barred state from funding the family organization because it performs abortions

Man, it seems like Arizona’s conservatives can get any of their tyrannical laws to stick. First it was their crazy “papers please” anti-immigration law. Then it was their “prove you’re a citizen” voting rules. Now a federal judge has overturned a law blocking Medicaid funds for Planned Parenthood’s healthcare clinics because they perform abortions. On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Neil Wake ruled that the measure unlawfully robs Arizona’s women on Medicaid of their ability to choose healthcare services. Wake had already put the law, signed by the state’s controversial Republican governor, Jan Brewer, on hold in October following a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood. Arizona does not provide tax dollars for abortion, but backers of the law wanted to make sure that no indirect money was funneled to organizations that provide those services. Well, they now see how well that work! Slowly but surely, women are winning the fight against conservative attacks on their rights to reproductive freedom. (Reuters)

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