The White House on Thursday urged Indiana to back off a new law that would withhold taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood, setting up a clash with the state after formally declaring its policy illegal.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and Medicaid administrator Donald M. Berwick both defended the administration's decision to reject the Indiana law. They both said they expect Indiana to comply, declining to say whether the administration would withhold federal money should Indiana defy the order.
"We expect Indiana will comply with the federal law. That's our position now," Berwick told Fox News. "Medicaid can't pay with federal dollars for abortion, but that does not mean the state can deny services from a willing provider. That's just what the law is and we're just implementing the law."
The Indiana Legislature voted in April to cut off $3 million in federal money the state distributes to the family planning group. Supporters of the bill argued that if the state gives money to Planned Parenthood to use on services other than abortion, then Planned Parenthood has that much more of its own money to use on providing abortions. Federal law prohibits the use of taxpayer money for abortion services.
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