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WINSTON-SALEM, NC, August 25, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Last Friday, a North Carolina judge blocked plans by the state to cut funding to Planned Parenthood.

The first Republican-controlled legislature in over a century in the state had voted to include a provision in the state budget this summer prohibiting any state funding of Planned Parenthood. Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the budget but the General Assembly later overrode the veto.

However, U.S. District Judge James Beaty Jr., a 1994 nominee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, on Friday issued a preliminary injunction against the cut, pending the outcome of a lawsuit Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina filed against the funding cuts.

Beaty’s action is similar to actions taken by Kansas and Indiana judges, who have stayed Planned Parenthood funding restrictions.

Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, which operates clinics in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Fayetteville, argues that it is being punished for pro-abortion advocacy and that the funding cut violates its free-speech protections. Without the funds Planned Parenthood will probably lay off eight employees, reports local CBS affiliate WRAL

But North Carolina Right to Life President Barbara Holt told LifeSiteNews.com that cutting funding to Planned Parenthood is clearly the right thing to do.

“Our tax dollars should not go to organizations like Planned Parenthood which are in the business of killing unborn children,” she said.

“Based on Planned Parenthood’s own 2009 reports, 97.6% of pregnant women who come to Planned Parenthood get abortions and 1/3 of Planned Parenthood’s clinic revenues comes from its abortion business.”

Republican Senator Warren Daniel of Morganton, who successfully sponsored this year’s Women’s Right to Know Act, told LSN, “Although I respect the court’s opinion on the matter I believe the elected legislature has the constitutional authority to determine how taxpayer funds are spent.”

The state is reportedly considering appealing Judge Beaty’s decision.

Contact information:

United States District Court
Middle District of North Carolina
251 N. Main St
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-734-2516