SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – October 2, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah CEO has responded to the news that the Utah Department of Health intends to add funding through December 31 to the contracts that were set to expire or terminate this week.
“We were pleased that we will continue to receive funding while this matter is in the courts,” said Karrie Galloway, CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. “As always, we are committed to providing the excellent health care and education that Utahns rely on us for.”
Governor Hebert issued the following response to this latest development by way of press secretary Aimee Edwards. “The governor complied with the order of the court, and the Utah Department of Health will continue its contract with Planned Parenthood until Dec. 31, 2015. However, this action does not deter Governor Herbert’s resolve to carry out his directive. The governor stands by his actions and looks forward to responding to Planned Parenthood’s claims in court.”
On Tuesday, September 29, Judge Clark Waddoups of the United States District Court for the District of Utah enjoined the governor from halting federal funding to Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.
The next hearing in the matter of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah v. Herbert is scheduled for Thursday, October 15.
The temporary injunction will keep the money flowing while Planned Parenthood seeks a long term legal remedy with the state of Utah.
On Monday, Planned Parenthood of Utah filed suit against Governor Herbert and asked the court for emergency relief, saying Herbert’s executive order of August 14, 2015 violated Planned Parenthood’s constitutional rights.
In court filings arguing the nature of the case Planned Parenthood attorneys wrote the following:
“The claims in this case arise in a current political climate that is very hostile to Planned Parenthood. At the time of the filing of this complaint, threats of a complete shut-down of the federal government loom as certain opponents of Planned Parenthood in Congress are conditioning the approval of the government’s operating budget on the complete revocation of all federal funds to Planned Parenthood, unless the organization certifies that it will not provide abortions. Accordingly, Governor Herbert’s decision was motivated solely by animus toward PPAU’s constitutionally protected, privately funded activities — specifically, PPAU’s association with providers of abortion services, including the National Organization and its affiliates, PPAU’s advocacy for access to abortion services; and/or PPAU’s provision of and/or association with abortion services, even though PPAU conducts all such activities outside of any state or federal program and with no funding from those programs.”
(DEVELOPING)
Governor Herbert is worse than Hitler. I pray we get him out of office for the good of our state.