Planned Parenthood sued the state of Arizona Monday as a means of overturning a law that stops funding clinics due to the organization's support and performance of abortions.
The law is a new addition to a national fight against Planned Parenthood by conservative Republican lawmakers who are against abortion. Since 2010, 13 different states went out of their way to prevent funding for Planned Parenthood. The organization has sued six of the states, the most recent being Arizona.
Planned Parenthood has won cases in five of the states-Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, and Kansas.
Planned Parenthood argues that abortions only make up three percent of the services they offer, which also include birth control and cancer screening. The organization also maintains that it is being put under fire for providing constitutionally protected services and that women are being hindered from access to preventive healthcare because of it.
Bryan Howard, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Arizona, says the state has no right to dictate where people can and cannot go for their healthcare services.
Howard stated, "It is wrong for the state to tell Arizonans who they can and cannot see for their healthcare. The men and women of this state have the right to see the healthcare provide they deem is best for them."
