Abortion Impasse Could End Women’s Health Program

AUSTIN (AP) � A fight to keep state money from going to abortions could end a key health care program serving low-income women in Texas. The Women’s Health Program is set to expire in December, and the Republican state senator sponsoring legislation to renew it wants to bar Planned Parenthood and abortion affiliates from the plan.

Senator Bob Deuell, whose district includes part of Smith County, can’t get the bill to the senate floor for a vote because Democrats have balked at a provision that dissolves the program if abortion affiliates sue to regain entrance. Planned Parenthood has informed Deuell that it plans to sue if the legislation passes. The agency says 120,000 Texas women will lose access to health care without the program.

The bill is part of a larger fight led by conservative lawmakers to defund Planned Parenthood.