An Ohio bill that aims to divert more than $1 million in government money away from Planned Parenthood has passed the state Senate after Democrats and other opponents claimed it threatens access to health care services.
The proposal targets grants that the organization receives through the Ohio Department of Health. The taxpayer dollars support initiatives for HIV testing, breast and cervical cancer screenings, prevention of violence against women and others.
The legislation follows the release of secretly recorded videos by anti-abortion activists showing Planned Parenthood employees describing how they provide fetal tissue from abortions for medical research. Planned Parenthood says the videos are deceptively edited.
The measure passed on a 23-10 vote Wednesday after clearing a committee earlier in the day.
A similar bill is pending in the House.