Huge Pro-Life Wins in Texas and Tennessee

The states are protecting the lives of all children. 

Finally.

Last Monday, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas, allowing my homestate to boot Planned Parenthood out of their Medicaid program. In 2017 a lower court blocked the state from removing the genocidal group. But now, justice has finally been served. 

The Texas Tribune transcribed the court’s ruling.

“Medicaid beneficiaries have an ‘absolute right’ … to receive services from a provider whom the State has determined is ‘qualified,’ but beneficiaries have no right under the statute to challenge a State’s determination that a provider is unqualified,” the court wrote.”

Additionally, last Friday a Federal Appeals Court ruled part of a Tennessee law prohibiting abortion due to race, sex, prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome, and more can now take effect.

CNN reported the “6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted part of a lower court’s preliminary injunction that blocked the law from being enforced, allowing a portion of the law to take effect while the case continues to be litigated between the state and abortion rights groups.”

Tennessee was one of nine states to pass “heartbeat-ban” legislation, prohibiting abortion after a fetal hearbeat is detected, sometimes as early as 6 weeks into a pregnancy. Violating the law would be a class C felony, punishable by up to 15 years in jail and a $10,000 maximum fine.

Legislation continues as pro-abortion groups keep trying to stop babies’ heartbeats across the nation. CNN reported on the events leading up to the court’s decision.

“Tennessee abortion providers represented by abortion rights advocates had argued in part that the law is ‘unconstitutionally vague,’ according to the court’s ruling, ‘because it requires a physician to discern her patient’s motivations.’

But the court ruled 2-1 in the state’s favor, allowing Tennessee to enforce the ban while litigation continues. 

One judge on the three-judge panel dissented, writing that women ‘often seek reproductive care for multifaceted reasons’ and that the law was ‘unclear on how the state determines whether the physician understood the eventual reason for the woman’s choice.’”

The court has not yet weighed in on whether abortion will be outlawed as early as 6 weeks, but legislation is continuing. 

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee tweeted about the court’s decision: “Every life is precious and every child has inherent human dignity. Our law prohibits abortion based on the race, gender, or diagnosis of Down syndrome of the child and the court’s decision will save lives. Protecting our most vulnerable Tennesseans is worth the fight.”

These two developments are huge steps in the direction of protecting all Americans. 

Hat Tip: The Texas Tribune, CNN, The Daily Wire

Image Credit: Wikimedia