Sweeping anti-abortion bill faces Kan. House vote, Tenn. law shows what they plan

Kansas House action expected today

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House is preparing for a final vote on a bill that would block tax breaks for abortion providers and bar public schools from using sex education instruction from abortion providers.

Approval on final action Wednesday would send the measure to the Senate. The Republican-dominated House has an anti-abortion majority, so the measure was expected to pass.

Senate GOP leaders are promising their chamber will consider the bill quickly.

The bill would prevent groups providing abortions from receiving tax exemptions or credits that go to other nonprofit groups or health care providers. It would also bar women who claim income tax deductions for medical expenses from including the cost of abortion services.

The legislation also prohibits abortion providers from furnishing materials or instructors for sex education classes in schools.

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Federal judge bars Tennessee from barring Planned Parenthood prevention programs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge in Nashville has blocked Republican leaders' efforts to keep Planned Parenthood of Tennessee from participating in venereal disease prevention programs. The efforts are federally funded, but administered by the state and are aimed at reducing the infection rate of HIV and syphilis.

The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/Ywffwu) reported U.S. District Court Judge William J. Haynes Jr. issued his ruling Wednesday, barring the state from defunding Planned Parenthood in contracts totaling more than $171,500 last year.

In his ruling, Haynes noted a political and legislative history of Republican efforts to cut the organization's funding because Planned Parenthood also performs abortions. He cited statements from then-candidate Bill Haslam, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Sen. Stacey Campfield.

The court noted a statement in which Ramsey called Planned Parenthood "the largest abortion provider in the country" and said, "It has always been the ambition of Republicans in the legislature to defund this organization."

Barry Chase, CEO of Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, said the agency is "thrilled that the court has permanently stopped the state from impermissibly barring Planned Parenthood from providing critical disease prevention education and services. Politics should never interfere with Tennesseans' access to critical medical services."

Planned Parenthood has received positive reviews over the last decade of administering the program, for which the contracts are let through competitive bidding.

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Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.