When Dick the Butcher said, "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers," in Henry VI, he may have inadvertently been paying a compliment to the lawyers. For without them, his mob could better cause chaos. Dick and the boys needed the legal system out of their way. (Inadvertently paying a compliment, that is, for the character. We're pretty sure the writer knew what he was doing.)
Thank heavens for lawyers. No, really. Who else could figure out how to defend the state in court against Planned Parenthood and its seasoned legal confederates? Just reading the questions asked of the lawyers is enough to spin the most secured head.
Does the Medicaid Act's free choice providers provision allow for exclusions for ethical reasons and in "interlocking statutes" governing the program set forth misconduct by said providers and what of claims about a judicially enforceable right under Section 23 (A) . . . .
Lord above. One day they need to teach writing in pre-law.
Suffice it to say that Planned Parenthood--which really should get a different name, preferably without using the word Parent--lost in court the other day. So did death. Instead, this state's people--Regnat populus--won, as did their governor and attorney general. Another winner: life.
Life often wins in court when Planned Parenthood loses. This time a federal appellate court vacated a federal judge's order in this state that said Arkansas must continue to send tax money to Planned Parenthood through Medicaid. That judge had ruled that Governor Asa Hutchinson's decision to stop paying Medicaid dollars to Planned Parenthood after those videos came to light in 2015 was no good, legally speaking. The governor, with an assist from Leslie Rutledge's office, appealed. And won.
To quote Attorney General Rutledge: "The Court found that Planned Parenthood and the three patients it recruited could not contest in federal court Arkansas' determination that a medical provider has engaged in misconduct that merits disqualification from the Medicaid program."
To translate: Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay outfits like Planned Parenthood.
But, but, but--some will say--state law already prevented Medicaid funds from being used for abortions. Yes, but cash is fungible. Ask the Mob.
Planned Parenthood is not to be dissuaded, however. It issued a news release condemning the appeals court ruling: "Today's decision does not go into effect yet and therefore will not have any immediate impacts to Medicaid patients in Arkansas." And it is "evaluating all options to ensure our patients receive uninterrupted care."
Care. Is that what it's called these days? In a world in which death is "choice," why can't Planned Parenthood's "clinics" provide care? And call killing healing. George Orwell could explain it.
Eternal vigilance, Gentle Reader. This fight isn't over. We suspicion one day all these rulings and decisions and appeals from the several states will be bundled into one big U.S. Supreme Court pronouncement.
But for today, count it a win. And move on to the next courtroom.
Editorial on 08/20/2017