After Texas refused to bow to the federal government’s demands and include Planned Parenthood in its Medicaid-funded Women’s Health Program, federal funds were cut off. In reply, Texas created its own program for low income women—the Texas Women’s Health Program (TWHP)—which will be funded completely with state funds. That program is set to take effect November 1. Planned Parenthood is pushing back, trying to force the state to fund the abortion giant in the state funded program.

Last summer, however, Texas passed legislation, which was signed by Governor Rick Perry, which prohibits the state from funding Planned Parenthood or any other organization that commits or promotes abortions. Dr. Kyle Janek, executive commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), is digging in his boot heels, saying that the entire TWPH will be scrapped if the courts require Texas to include Planned Parenthood in the program.

The standoff in Texas is extremely important in the realm of states’ rights and will set a precedent for other states to follow in defunding Planned Parenthood.

Congratulations to all those working hard in Texas to defund Planned Parenthood, and to Governor Perry and the Texas Department of State Health Services for standing their ground in this important battle.