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Iowa Senate removes Planned Parenthood defunding in bill

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April 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Democratic-majority Senate has stripped away language in a budget bill passed by the Republican-controlled House that would remove state funding for Planned Parenthood.

The Senate voted 27-23 Friday for a roughly $1.8 billion health and human services bill that would remove language to cut Medicaid funding for family planning facilities that provide abortions. Medicaid provides health services for about 560,000 poor and disabled residents.

Democrats say the proposal would make Iowa ineligible for federal dollars. Republicans say they don’t want to support abortion providers and there are other options available.

The Senate would also add more state oversight of Medicaid, which switched recently to private management. Democrats say an oversight plan by the House isn’t enough.

A special legislative committee is expected to sort out differences in the bill.