A total of 137 members of Congress submitted an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the petition of Baker v. Planned Parenthood. The brief addresses the question of whether third parties, such as Planned Parenthood or their patients, have the right to request that federal courts determine which providers can be reimbursed by Medicaid under spending clause contracts between the states and the federal government.
“We thank South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott and South Carolina Representatives Jeff Duncan and Ralph Norman as well as other pro-life members of Congress for this amicus brief,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “It is vital that states be able to consistently support their interests in the right to life and that includes determining which health care providers are considered qualified for reimbursement under Medicaid.”
In 2018, South Carolina’s governor ordered the state’s Department of Health and Human Services to stop paying for abortions at state clinics. Planned Parenthood sued, saying that the Medicaid Act allows anyone to sue and that the state should pay for abortions. The courts have different opinions on this issue. Joshua Baker, South Carolina’s Director of Health and Human Services, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve the different opinions.
“It is a privilege for South Carolina Citizens for Life to join in supporting this federal litigation seeking to protect the unborn children of our state,” said Holly Gatling, executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life.
The U.S. Supreme Court says the Constitution’s Spending Clause is a contract between state and federal governments. Planned Parenthood wants to sue to get what it wants. South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services already has a rule that lets providers appeal decisions about who is a qualified provider. Planned Parenthood wants to sue in federal court.
“Planned Parenthood pulls in over a billion dollars a year, largely through Medicaid reimbursements, and the abortion giant has no qualms pursuing every penny of profit,” said Tobias. “It’s no surprise they are willing to go to court to keep their profit margin.”
Despite a national decline in the number of abortions, Planned Parenthood has consistently increased its own abortion rate, becoming the largest abortion provider in the United States. Moreover, this organization, which is often regarded as a monolith, has an annual income of over $1 billion.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
