NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Despite previous failed attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, Louisiana legislators are now one step closer to blocking a proposed abortion clinic in New Orleans.
Planned Parenthood has proposed an abortion clinic on Claiborne Avenue, however, the organization does not yet have a license to perform abortions in Louisiana.
Monday, the full Senate passed a bill that would strip public funding from any entity that provides abortions, unless it was necessary to save the life of the pregnant patient, or the pregnancy was a result of incest or rape.
Republican Rep. Frank Hoffmann’s bill is the latest attempt to strip Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding, after previous attempts by former Governor Bobby Jindal were blocked in federal court.
Opponents say the ban conflicts with federal regulations governing Medicaid financing and would strip money from needed health care services for the poor.
That bill now heads to Governor John Bel Edwards for his signature.
Meanwhile, Governor Edwards recently signed another abortion bill into law, requiring women wait at least 72 hours from the time they have the state-required ultrasound to the time they have the abortion.
The previous wait time was 24 hours.