OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge is scheduled to hear a request for an injunction against plans by the Oklahoma Department of Health to end contracts at three Planned Parenthood clinics in the Tulsa area.
A hearing is scheduled Thursday before U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot. The injunction is sought in a lawsuit filed last month by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland against Oklahoma Health Commissioner Terry Cline.
Planned Parenthood alleges the state's decision to end its contracts to administer the Women, Infant and Children program was politically motivated retaliation for the organization's support of abortion rights. The WIC program provides food and nutritional counseling to low-income mothers.
State health officials say the decision was based in part on Planned Parenthood's cost per participant exceeding those of other clinics in the Tulsa area.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.