ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is reupping the fight to get rid of public funding for health care clinics that provide abortions across the state.
She filed a court motion to reinstate a 2016 Florida law that would have blocked state dollars from going clinics like Planned Parenthood. A federal judge struck down the a portion of the law that prevented money from going to the clinics, citing Roe v. Wade.
However, since the Supreme Court overturned that case last summer, Moody now wants the injunction to dissolve and let the law take effect.
"There is no constitutional right to abortion and that Supreme Court cases holding otherwise were 'egregiously wrong from the start,'" the court documents stated. "The State may thus constitutionally prohibit abortion within its borders."
Even if funding does not go directly to services providing abortion, Moody said she still wants public funding cut for health care clinics.
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida said the proposed move from the state's attorney general will risk the health and access of many low-income people who rely on their services.
"Thousands of Floridians with low incomes turn to Planned Parenthood health centers for essential preventive care like STI testing and treatment, cancer screening, and birth control," Planned Parenthood said in a statement to 10 Tampa Bay. "Now, the state is jeopardizing Floridians’ health by blocking Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida from receiving funding for these services.
"This is just the latest attack on the health of the communities that rely on our providers, especially Black and Latino people, young people, and people who are LGBTQ+."
The nonprofit organization said they will continue to fight against Moody's stance to prevent the proposal from becoming law.
"It is unconscionable that those in power are further restricting Floridians’ ability to lead healthy and fulfilled lives," Planned Parenthood stated. "Despite this setback, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will do everything in our power to provide high-quality, affordable care to all who seek it — no matter what."