Texas Announces State Defunding of Planned Parenthood

Texas officials announced this week that they will be defunding the Planned Parenthood abortion provider through their state's Medicaid program.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to the abortion provider this week, citing the recent undercover videos that show Planned Parenthood executives discussing the costs associated with fetal body part procurement as the reason for removing the provider from the state Medicaid program.

"The gruesome harvesting of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood will not be allowed in Texas and the barbaric practice must be brought to an end," Abbott stated in the letter.

"As such, ending the Medicaid participation of Planned Parenthood affiliates in the State of Texas is another step in providing greater access to safe healthcare for women while protecting our most vulnerable — the unborn," the letter added.

Along with the sale of fetal body parts, Abbott's office also cited Planned Parenthood's failure to abide by proper hygienic standards as another reason for the defunding.

"You failed to prevent conditions that would allow the spread of infectious diseases among employees, as well as patients and the general public. Specifically, you allowed individuals posing as commercial buyers of fetal body parts to handle bloody fetal tissue while wearing only gloves," reads the letter.

Planned Parenthood has blasted the Texas decision, with Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, saying it a statement that the abortion provider "will fight back against this outrageous, malicious, political attack in Texas with everything we've got, and we will protect women's access to the health care they need and deserve."