Reproductive rights defeats in Michigan and Texas

It’s a tough day for reproductive rights. Just as Michigan Republicans manage to cram through an all-in-one anti-abortion bill destined to penalize impoverished rural women and force clinics to close under the burden of ridiculous and pointless rules (even as some lawmakers made it clear they couldn’t care less what the bill actually says in their zeal to protect the imaginary rights of fetuses), a Texas judge has now allowed the state to block funds to Planned Parenthood:

Attorney general spokeswoman Lauren Bean said Judge Gary Harger has ruled that Texas may exclude otherwise qualified doctors and clinics from receiving state funding just because they advocate for abortion rights. The state has long banned the use of state funds for abortion.

At issue Monday was whether Planned Parenthood and other abortion-rights groups could continue to provide preventive health care to poor women as part of the Women's Health Program. The program provides check-ups and birth control to 110,000 poor women and 48,000 of them go to Planned Parenthood clinics.

No word on what the chances are that Planned Parenthood will regain the right to provide their critical, life-saving services to the hundred thousand in their care despite the ideological crusade constantly being waged against them by crusty old pearl-clutching demagogues who shrivel up at the idea of women possessing any amount of basic sexual agency.

(via @breakingpol; RT: @BreakingNews)