Planned Parenthood prevails in ongoing funding battle amid California closures

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

PLANNED PARENTHOOD WINS (FOR NOW)

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and its affiliates.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwari in the District of Massachusetts, granted Planned Parenthood’s emergency motion for a preliminary injunction on Monday.

This preliminary injunction will allow Planned Parenthood to receive reimbursements for their services through Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, as was paused for one year in the recently passed Big, Beautiful Bill. The reimbursements must now resume until a “trial on the merits can be held.”

In the lawsuit, Planned Parenthood alleged that the current administration violated the U.S. Constitution and targeted them unfairly. Talwari granted relief in favor of Planned Parenthood. In the order, she said there was sufficient evidence that demonstrates their “substantial likelihood of success” as the case continues.

According to Talwani’s order, “the court is not enjoining the federal government from regulating abortion and is not directing the federal government to fund elective abortions or any healthcare service not otherwise eligible for Medicaid coverage.” Rather, she said this temporary relief prevents the Planned Parenthood Federation members from being targeted and excluded, pending a fair trial.

Planned Parenthood declared this ruling a win across their social media platforms, denouncing the provision in the Big Beautiful Bill that “target[ed] care at Planned Parenthood health centers” and said that “while this case continues, so does your access to care.”

“We are grateful for today’s ruling, which temporarily protects access to care for the countless patients who rely on Planned Parenthood health centers in California for care,” said Jodi Hicks, CEO and President of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.

“However, the reality is that this injunction is not a permanent solution, and we know that relying solely on litigation is precarious and unsustainable,” Hicks said in a statement. “As this case continues, Planned Parenthood in California will continue to fight for long-term funding strategies that ensure people in California can access the care they need and deserve at the provider of their choice, including Planned Parenthood health centers.”

IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL

Via David Lightman...

A group of Democratic senators led by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., is pushing for changes in immigration law that would make it easier for immigrants to apply for permanent lawful status.

The proposal would allow someone to apply for that status if they have lived in this country continuously for at least seven years before applying. They also must not have a criminal record and meet all other current requirements for a green card.

Padilla estimated that 8 million people could be eligible for green, or permanent resident, cards under this law, including children brought to this country by undocumented immigrants, children of long-term visa holders, essential workers, and highly skilled workers.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, is pushing the legislation in the House.

“We believe that if you’ve lived here for over seven years, paid taxes for years, contributed to your community for years, and you don’t have a criminal record, then you deserve a pathway to legalization,” said Padilla, top Democrat on the Senate’s Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety subcommittee.

No Senate Republicans are listed as sponsors. The GOP represents 53 of the 100 senators, and the Trump administration has been cracking down on undocumented immigrants, trying to detain and deport them, in some cases where they have no criminal record.

Currently immigrants who have lived in this country continuously since January 1, 1972 can apply for permanent residency status.

BONTA AT BAT, AGAIN

Via Molly Gibbs...

Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing over President Donald Trump’s alleged attempt to gather American’s personal information through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for immigration enforcement efforts.

Prompted by an executive order from Trump, the USDA demanded states turn over the personal information of SNAP recipients and applicants, going back five years. The program, which provides food assistance to low-income families, is federally-funded but administered by individual states. If states do not comply, the USDA has suggested it will withhold funding for the program.

The SNAP application process requires a wide range of personal information, such as a social security number, to determine eligibility. For years, state and federal laws have insured applicants that the information they provide would not be used for other purposes, according to a press release from Bonta.

“This unprecedented demand that states turn over SNAP data violates all kinds of state and federal privacy laws,” Bonta said, “and further breaks the trust between the federal government and the people it serves.”

Along with New York Attorney General Letitia James, Bonta leads a group of attorneys general in filing a suit against the demand. Arguments in the lawsuit include that the requests violate federal privacy laws, exceed the agencies authority and violate the Spending Clause.

In addition to being illegal, Bonta says the information request appears to be a part of the federal government’s “coordinated effort” to collect American’s information and advance Trump’s agenda.

“The President doesn’t get to change the rules in the middle of the game, no matter how much he may want to,” Bonta said. “While he may be comfortable breaking promises to the American people, California is not. We will not comply with this illegal demand. We’ll see the President in court.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“157 years ago today, the 14th Amendment was ratified to guarantee that formerly enslaved people — and all those born in the United States — are recognized as citizens.

“Now Trump wants to erase that constitutional promise of birthright citizenship and equality. We must defend it.”

— Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif. on X

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