Missouri Senate Republicans blast Planned Parenthood ruling

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Senate Republicans on Thursday blasted a court's decision the state had tried improperly to revoke a Planned Parenthood clinic's abortion license, saying lawmakers were concerned a state-funded hospital had provided privileges necessary for the license.

U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey ruled Wednesday the Department of Health and Senior Services could not revoke the license for the Columbia, Missouri, clinic until it's set to expire June 30, saying the move likely resulted from political pressure.

She said the agency likely acted hastily to revoke the clinic's abortion license out of concern lawmakers would cut its budget if it didn't.

The department's efforts came amid fallout from Republican lawmakers investigating abortion practices in the state, including privileges University of Missouri Health Care gave to the Columbia clinic's only physician providing abortions.

Some legislators argued the hospital facilitated abortions by granting those privileges.

MU Health Care subsequently took away the physician's privileges, prompting the health department to try to revoke the clinic's license.

Lawmakers argued they had a right to question a state-funded hospital's decision to provide such privileges.

"It appears that the court in this instance failed to appreciate the fundamental constitutional authority of the Legislature to speak for the citizens of Missouri and to determine how their tax dollars will be spent," said GOP Sen. Bob Onder, who was among senators investigating abortions. "There is no question that our constituents do not want their tax dollars being used to subsidize abortions, and we have a duty to make sure that the law as written is being followed."

The Columbia clinic already had stopped offering medication-induced abortions last year after its doctor lost privileges, and Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri president and CEO Laura McQuade said the clinic still is searching for a replacement.

But it did not want to lose the license because of the expense and hassle to reapply.

In the ruling, Laughrey cited the only other time the department tried to revoke a license for an ambulatory surgical center, during which the clinic had time to submit a plan of action and attempt to come back into compliance before the state finally took action.

In the case of the Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic, the health department had threatened to take away the license the same day the doctor lost privileges.

Lawyers for the state had argued Planned Parenthood knew in advance employing a physician with certain hospital privileges is necessary to be in compliance with state regulations, and the clinic had time to remedy the situation.

McQuade said in a Wednesday statement the judgment confirms the state "unfairly targeted Planned Parenthood and its staff for providing safe, legal abortion."