Lawsuit Challenges Abortion Language in Spending Bill

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association filed suit to stop what it claims is "a conflict between a law that requires health care providers to inform women about abortions and a new rule passed by Congress."  As an example, the NFPRHA said that the newly enacted law would put a publicly funded hospital at risk of a discrimination lawsuit by a nurse fired for refusing to refer a pregnant woman who wants an abortion. However, that same hospital is required to provide the information as a condition for receiving federal grant money.  California Attorney General Bill Lockyer also has filed suit against the provision, which he called, among other things, an attack on state sovereignty.  For a full copy of the NFPRHA press release and copies of the court filings, see http://www.nfprha.org

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