Planned Parenthood to protest SC governor’s abortion order

The S.C. chapter of Planned Parenthood will protest an order by Gov. Henry McMaster that would block any state money from being spent on its services.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic plans to protest at the S.C. State House in Columbia at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The protest is co-sponsored by Progress South Carolina and the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network, according to a Facebook event page.

Organizers plan to present a petition they say was signed by more than 4,000 South Carolinians who oppose McMaster’s order.

Last month, McMaster issued an order that would prohibit state agencies from spending money on any physician or medical practice affiliated with an abortion clinic.

“Taxpayer dollars must not directly or indirectly subsidize abortion providers like Planned Parenthood,” McMaster said in a news release, adding other entities that don’t work with abortion providers could meet women’s health needs in the state.

At the time, the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services said Columbia’s Planned Parenthood chapter received $72,867 in Medicaid payments last year.

Federal law prohibits family-planning dollars from being spent on abortion. However, clinics can be reimbursed by Medicaid for abortions performed because the pregnancy threatens the mother’s life or resulted from rape or incest.

This story was originally published September 18, 2017 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Planned Parenthood to protest SC governor’s abortion order."