The Quickie: PPSLR Sues Missouri Attorney General for Sham Investigation of Transgender Care 

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.

In today’s Quickie: Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region sues over sham investigation of gender-affirming care, abortion rights play a crucial role in electoral politics, PPFA launches a new Reproductive Health and Equity Guide, and our state fights lookahead.

PPSLR SUES MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR SHAM INVESTIGATION OF TRANSGENDER CARE: On Friday, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (PPSLR)  sued Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey over a sham investigation into their gender-affirming care program. This investigation comes as the attorney general promised to issue emergency regulations effectively banning gender-affirming care for young people, on the false premise that this evidence-based care is “experimental.” 

Bailey sent a Civil Investigative Demand to PPSLRSWMO that contained over 50 separate demands, pursuing HIPAA-protected patient health information and every document that references “social media'' or “Tik Tok.” This investigation is not only outside the scope of the attorney general’s power, but politically motivated. In February, Bailey also launched an investigation into the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. PPSLR president and CEO Yamelsie Rodríguez said in a statement,

“Planned Parenthood knows this playbook well, and we’ll move forward just like we have in every other sham investigation — we’ll continue providing expert and evidence-based health care while we fight in court. This investigation is what ignorance and transphobia look like, and they have no place in our exam rooms. To our trans and non-binary patients: our doors remain open to you. We are not backing down.”

Read more from the Associated Press.

ABORTION REMAINS AT CENTER OF CAMPAIGNS: Yesterday, the NYT’s Reid J. Epstein covered the undeniable impact abortion rights continue to play in electoral politics, particularly in down ballot races. Epstein highlighted several local elections where the Democratic candidates are keeping abortion rights front and center, proudly talking about it with voters, and including it in their ads. Candidates and strategists agree: Supporting abortion rights is a winning political message.    

“Abortion and reproductive rights is the No. 1 issue in 2023,” said Ben Wikler, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin “It’s the No. 1 issue that moves voters that normally vote Republican to vote for someone else and it’s the No. 1 issue to get Democrats off the couch and casting ballots.”

Read more from the NYT. 

PPFA & THE FEMALE QUOTIENT LAUNCH INTERACTIVE REPRO HEALTH EQUITY GUIDE FOR BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS: Last week, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and The Female Quotient, a woman-owned business driving visibility and solutions for gender equality, launched a new Reproductive Health Equity Guide in honor of Women's History Month. The guide is a free and interactive online resource for anyone who wants to understand the health, economic, and social value of reproductive health care and reproductive rights, and the critical role that businesses and individuals can play in making sure all people can get the care they need. The guide includes important calls to action, informing people about ways to get involved in a time of increasing attacks and restrictions on reproductive rights.

“This guide is a must-see for anyone in the workforce or who leads a business to better understand the human, moral, and economic value in proactively supporting sexual and reproductive health care access,” said Nadia Khamis, director of corporate engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 

STATE FIGHTS LOOK AHEAD: 

• Last week Delaware lawmakers introduced the Medicaid Coverage of Abortion bill (HB 110), legislation to amend the Delaware code to cover abortion services through Medicaid without a co-pay, deductible, or cost-sharing. HB110 will be heard in the House Health and Human Development on Wednesday.
• On Thursday, the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on the Access to Abortion Care Act (HB88) and legislation to repeal criminal penalties in the state’s 24-week ban (HB224).
• SB1909, a bill to hold anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers accountable for their harmful disinformation practices, passed the Illinois Senate and will now move to the House for consideration. 

• Today, the Florida Senate is poised to debate and vote on SB300, the proposed six-week abortion ban. Last week, Democrats filed more than 10 amendments to the bill, all of which were rejected. The House is expected to hear its version of the bill next week. A proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors is also advancing and (SB254/HB1421) will be heard on both the House and Senate floors today. Lastly, a bad sex education bill that includes “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” and book banning provisions has passed the full house.
• A ban on local government abortion funds (HB90/SB600) — such as that established by the city of Nashville — has passed the Tennessee Legislature and heads to the desk of Gov. Lee, who is expected to sign it. 
• A measure allowing private schools to ban or limit trans students’ participation in school sports (HB306/SB1237) will be considered in the Tennessee House on Thursday.