Texas gets OK to ban Planned Parenthood

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AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Texas did not violate Planned Parenthood's constitutional rights when it moved to expel the group from a women's health program, an appeals court ruled.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the right of Texas to reject participants that promote abortion or affiliate with organizations that perform or promote abortions, the Austin American-Statesmen reported Wednesday.

The ruling overturned the findings of a federal district court in Austin that said expelling Planned Parenthood from a health and contraceptive care program for low-income women violated the organization's rights of free speech and association.

A Texas spokeswoman said the state can now take action.

"We appreciate the court's ruling and will move to enforce state law banning abortion providers and affiliates from the Women's Health Program as quickly as possible," said Stephanie Goodman of the Health and Human Services Commission.