Planned Parenthood lost an appeal to block a Kansas law withholding federal family planning funds from the agency. Planned Parenthood argued that they were denied their rights to association and free expression. But Judge Harris Hartz wrote for the majority, “Planned Parenthood’s theory raises the prospect of every loser in a political battle claiming that enactment of legislation it opposed was motivated by hostility toward the loser’s speech.” (Reuters, March 25, 2014, by David Bailey)
Planned Parenthood said the state illegally blocked federal Title X money intended to help low income citizens with reproductive services. The money cannot be used for abortions, and the Planned Parenthood clinics that may have to close down did not provide abortions as part of their services. (CNS News, March 25, 2014, by Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press)