(The Center Square) – A day after Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin said it would pause abortions, the state’s attorney general asked a federal court to make sure Planned Parenthood doesn’t lose any money.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced that because of a provision in the Big, Beautiful Bill it will “pause” abortions as of Oct. 1.
“Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is — and always will be — focused on putting our patients first. Our commitment is unwavering: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will continue to provide the full spectrum of reproductive health care — including abortion — as soon as we are able to,” Planned Parenthood CEO Tanya Atkinson said in a statement.
The federal legislation bans any clinic that provides abortions from billing Medicaid for other services. While Planned Parenthood isn’t specifically named, the new law is aimed at it.
The Hyde Amendment has blocked federal funds from paying for abortions since the 1970s, but Planned Parenthood has been able to use taxpayer dollars for other, non-abortion services.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and 21 other Democrats AGs asked a court to freeze the Medicaid provision in the bill.
While the AGs argue that Congress overstepped its power and argue that the BBB will cause irreparable harm and increased costs for Planned Parenthood, Kaul is worried that some women in Wisconsin won’t be able to get abortions.
He said it’s a “concern” that “access to abortion, at least for some time period, is again going to become largely unavailable in the state of Wisconsin.”
Pro-Life groups, however, are celebrating the BBB’s defunding requirement.
“It is undeniable that many human lives will be saved for as long as the pause is in effect,” Tia Izzia with the Wisconsin Catholic Conference said.
Wisconsin Right to Life Executive Director Heather Weininger said the defund piece of the BBB closes the ” loopholes that have allowed abortion providers to benefit from Medicaid dollars.”
“Taxpayer dollars should never fund the taking of innocent preborn lives,” she added.
