Planned Parenthood Of Utah Wins Federal Appeal; Funding Restored

Planned Parenthood Files Lawsuit
Karrie Galloway, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood of Utah, addresses hundreds of supporters on the steps of the State Capitol during an August 2015 rally. Photo: Gephardt Daily/Jamie Cowen

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 12, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday granted Planned Parenthood of Utah’s restraining order preventing Gov. Gary Herbert from cutting off funding to the non-profit reproductive health group pending results of an appeal.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in Denver, reversed a Utah Federal Judge Clark Waddoups’ Dec. 22 decision, which upheld Herbert’s funding block.

Tuesday’s decision means that Planned Parenthood of Utah will get the $275,000 in federal funding previously received by Utah to be allocated to a non-profit health organization unless the decision of the initial appeal rules otherwise.

That money makes up a portion of the organization’s $8 million annual operating budget.

Herbert made the announcement he would block the funding to Planned Parenthood in a statement in August of 2015. He said he would forward the available federal funds to other non-profit health organizations.

Herbert said at the time that his negative opinion of Planned Parenthood was influenced by allegations by two filmmaker who infiltrated the Texas office of Planned Parenthood, and made undercover videos, reportedly indicating fetal tissue from abortion was available for purchase.

A Texas grand jury indicted the organization, but found no evidence of fetal tissue sales. The filmmakers were indicted on misdemeanor charges including one for attempting to buy fetal tissue.

Planned Parenthood of Utah said in a statement it has never used federal funding for abortions, and does not sell fetal tissue.

Kate Kelly, a feminist and former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who formed Ordain Women and previously worked for Planned Parenthood, greeted the news with the following Facebook post:

Kate Kelly post

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