Bill defunding Planned Parenthood in Missouri heads to Gov. Parsons desk
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers voted in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.
Even though abortion is already illegal in Missouri, this will block any state dollars from any facility associated with performing abortions.
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The bill is intended to defund abortion providers and their affiliates.
Missouri lawmakers approved the bill 106 to 48 on Wednesday. It will prevent abortion providers from receiving Medicaid dollars from the state.
The legislation, approved by party-line votes in both the House and Senate, bans Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for medical services.
This comes after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled not once, but twice that lawmakers could not use the budget to deny Medicaid funds to planned parenthood.
But this has nothing to do with the budget process, as it’s a separate bill. Lawmakers against the bill say it will hurt low-income patients who use planned parenthood for basic healthcare needs.
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Those in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood said it’s necessary that, even though no abortions are performed in Missouri, the money that goes to Planned Parenthood indirectly supports other facilities in other states that do perform abortions.
Governor Parson’s office said Parson will treat this bill like any other and will make his decision once it goes through a thorough review process.
