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Trump Gives States His Blessing to Defund Abortion Providers

President Donald Trump signed a law Thursday that allows states to deny certain federal funding to Planned Parenthood.

By Colleen Shalby

President Donald Trump signed a law Thursday that allows states to deny certain federal funding to Planned Parenthood.

The measure overturns a regulation finalized at the end of President Barack Obama's administration that explicitly prevented states from denying federal Title X family planning funds to clinics, like Planned Parenthood, that also provide abortion services.

Under longstanding practices, federal funds could not be used for abortions, but they could go to abortion clinics that provided other health care services. As of 2014, roughly 3 percent of the services provided by Planned Parenthood were abortion-related.

Vice President Mike Pence was the tie-breaking vote for the bill in the Senate last month after Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine broke from their Republican colleagues to oppose it.

The signing was done behind closed doors and without media present.

(c)2017 Los Angeles Times

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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