Judge in Oregon blocks Trump abortion referral rule

Judge in Oregon blocks Trump abortion referral rule

Describes the new policy as “madness” and says it would affect low-income women in particular.

  • By Wire Service
  • Monday, April 29, 2019 2:15pm
  • Northwest

Associated Press

SALEM, Ore. — A federal judge in Oregon has blocked a Trump administration attempt to prevent federally funded health care providers from referring pregnant women to abortion clinics, describing the new policy as “madness” and saying it would affect low-income women in particular.

The ruling Monday by U.S. District Judge Michael McShane in Eugene, Oregon, was the second nationwide injunction by a judge in the Pacific Northwest against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attempt to implement new rules Friday. A judge in Washington state made his ruling last week.

Plaintiffs in the case filed in Oregon include 20 states, Washington DC, the American Medical Association and the Planned Parenthood Federation.

The Department of Health and Human Services has said as a matter of policy it won’t comment on litigation.

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