New Texas Program Starts Without Planned Parenthood, After Judge Rejects TRO

AUSTIN, Texas—Planned Parenthood will be excluded at least temporarily from the new, state-funded Texas Women’s Health Program, under a state court order (Balquinta v. Texas Department of State Health Services).

A visiting judge Dec. 31, 2012, declined to issue a temporary order blocking the new state-funded program from enforcing regulations that prohibit participation by Planned Parenthood as a provider. The order, issued by visiting Judge Gary Harger in the Texas District Court, 419th Judicial District, did not address the merits of the suit, but found that the plaintiffs had not shown the irreparable injury required for a temporary ...