Life Links 4/20/12

The Texas Tribune is reporting on another Planned Parenthood affiliate merge. North Texas, Austin and Waco Planned Parenthoods are merging to become Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.

Publicly, Planned Parenthood leaders say the merger, which has been under discussion since 2009, is about creating a leaner, more efficient organization, especially in the face of reductions in state and federal financing. Less brazenly, they suggest that joining forces is the best way to defend their branches from an onslaught of anti-abortion legislation — and to connect the fundraising powerhouses concentrated in North Texas with endangered clinics throughout the 58,000-square-mile region and beyond. "For us, it's a strategic merger, an opportunity to pull together three very strong operations into one," said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Waco-born daughter of the late Gov. Ann Richards. "It will help on the advocacy side and, more important, on the health care delivery side."

Also in Texas, a judge has heard arguments over legislation to remove Planned Parenthood from the state women's health program.

But lawyers for the state said Planned Parenthood's mission was contrary to a Texas Women's Health Program goal of reducing abortions. The program provides cancer screenings, birth control and other health services to more than 100,000 low-income women. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel did not rule on Planned Parenthood's request but said he planned to do so by April 30. "I find this to be a difficult case," he said after lawyers for both sides made their arguments.

Pennsylvania has revoked the registration of one of Stephen Brigham's abortion clinics which has been shuttered because its abortionist resigned.

The letter acknowledges the clinic voluntarily closed, but the newspaper says regulators noted the clinic failed to notify the state that its doctor resigned creating an "infrastructure failure" that prompted the letter revoking the clinic's registration.