Which I’m assuming was promptly thrown in the trash.
(Life News) — Twenty-eight members of the U.S. Senate signed a letter they released today to President Barack Obama’s Medicaid Administrator, Donald Berwick, defending Indiana’s ban on taxpayer funds going to abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood.
The letter outlines how Indiana’s law is consistent with the federal Medicaid statute, and defends the rights of states to manage their own Medicaid programs consistent with the wishes of their constituents. Recently, Berwick’s office issued a letter to Indiana threatening to cut off Medicaid funding if it follows through with enforcement of its new law de-funding Planned Parenthood and letter went out to 49 other states threatening to revoke their Medicaid funding if they follow Indiana’s lead.
The letter, orchestrated by Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah and which LifeNews.com received, reads, “We disagree with your narrow interpretation of Title XIX of the Social Security Act and believe this represents a significant departure from Medicaid’s longstanding practice of having the states — not the federal government — set reasonable standards for qualified providers.”
“While the Indiana law does not change the family planning benefits offered to beneficiaries, it may change where certain services can be received — and with good reason,” the letter continues. . . .
In addition to Hatch, the following Senators signed the letter: Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), James Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Jim Moran (R-Kan.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.).