Federal court rejects Ohio law diverting public funds from Planned Parenthood

A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected an Ohio law that blocked public funds from going to Planned Parenthood.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled in favor of the women’s health-care provider on the law, which stopped funds from going to organizations that offer or promote abortions, according to The Associated Press.

Planned Parenthood said the law violated its constitutional rights, arguing it was being denied funds “in retaliation for” offering abortions.

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The state defended the law, saying it should be able to decide how to spend the public funds, but the court rejected that argument.

The law had targeted federal funding that Planned Parenthood receives through the state’s health department. The money backs programs that offer prevention services like HIV tests and cancer screenings.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office said it’s considering appealing the ruling, according to the AP.