Supreme Court hears South Carolina dispute over attempt to defund Planned Parenthood
The Supreme Court will hear a dispute arising from an effort by anti-abortion Republican officials in South Carolina to prevent reproductive health care provider Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a dispute arising from an effort by anti-abortion Republican officials in South Carolina to prevent reproductive health care provider Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds.
Although the divisive issue of abortion lurks in the background, the case focuses on a technical legal question of whether those eligible to use Medicaid, a program for low-income people administered by states, can sue in order to pick their preferred health care provider.
Ahead of the oral argument, competing groups of activists gathered outside the Supreme Court building, with a brass band providing a lively soundtrack. Some held signs saying, "I will fight for Planned Parenthood," while others had signs that said, "Planned Parenthood puts politics over people."
Opposition to abortion drove the state's move to defund Planned Parenthood, which came four years before the Supreme Court in 2022 rolled back the landmark abortion rights ruling in Roe v. Wade.
South Carolina now has a six-week abortion ban, meaning abortions are rare in the state.
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