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May 8, 2012

Arizona Enacts Ban on Public Funds for Groups That Provide Abortions 
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Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law a measure banning the use of
public funds by state or local government to contract with any
organization that provides abortions as one of its services. Planned
Parenthood of Arizona said the ban targets their organization, which
provides cancer screenings and well-woman exams in addition to
abortions. A similar ban targeting Planned Parenthood in Texas has been
blocked by a federal appeals court following a legal tussle last week
that saw the rule blocked, then reinstated, in a matter of hours. The
law in Arizona comes less than one month after Brewer signed a
controversial measure banning abortion after 20 weeks gestation —
or 18 weeks post-fertilization — except in medical emergencies.

 

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