Lawmakers advanced a budget measure that would prevent health clinics from getting family-planning dollars if they perform, counsel in favour of or refer patients to abortion services. Henry McMaster signed an executive order directing state agencies not to allocate Title X funding to health care providers affiliated in any way with abortion clinics. Federal law already forbids abortion providers from getting Title X money, but opponents said the bill could jeopardize funding for health centres that provide referrals. Planned Parenthood has said the money was privately raised, but miscoded by staff members. The budget measure “is a reasonable adjustment to Nebraska law that protects valuable services of Title X by completely separating them from the abortion industry,” Grasz said.

Source: National Post March 28, 2018 21:57 UTC