Missouri’s GOP Gov. Parson signs bill to kick Planned Parenthood off Medicaid

By SUMMER BALLENTINE
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson has signed a bill to once again try to kick Planned Parenthood out of the state’s Medicaid program. Parson signed the legislation Thursday in his Jefferson City Capitol office. According to Planned Parenthood, only Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas have successfully blocked Medicaid funding for the organization. Missouri Republicans have tried for years to block Medicaid funding from going to Planned Parenthood. Defunding efforts have been thwarted in the courts. Abortions are not covered by Medicaid, and almost all abortions are illegal in Missouri. But abortion opponents say Planned Parenthood shouldn’t receive any public funding because clinics in other states provide abortions.