Judge Denies Restraining Order; Indiana Planned Parenthood Will Be Immediately Defunded

As I mentioned yesterday, Indiana Governor Mitch "World-Class Garbage Legislation Signing Monster" Daniels signed a bill that makes Indiana the first state in the nation to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood. Today, a federal judge has blocked Planned Parenthood's request for a restraining order that would block the legislation until they can appeal the legislation:

U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt said in her ruling that the criteria for issuing a temporary restraining order have not been met. The judge said that the ACLU provided information showing the legislation would have a gradual affect on Planned Parenthood as opposed to the immediate harm required for a restraining order.

"This ruling should not be viewed as a signal on a future ruling," said Walton Pratt, indicating her decision should not be considered in future legal battles of the legislation.

The two sides will meet in court again on June 6 for an injunction hearing.

In the meantime, please donate to Planned Parenthood of Indiana and/or the ACLU of Indiana, if you can.

I was just watching local (Chicago) news coverage of the ruling and the coverage is, as expected, totally abysmal. It's being (mis)represented as a principled stand against allowing federal funds to pay for abortions, even though Planned Parenthood is already restricted from using those funds to pay for abortions by the Hyde Amendment.

This is going to be a long, ugly, and upsetting fight.

The women (and men) of Indiana have been told by their government that their lives and health and bodies and rights and agency don't matter, and other states are looking to follow suit. All we can do is raise our voices and say, over and over and over again, that we do matter, until we are heard.

[H/t to @scatx.]

Governor Mitch Daniels Signs Bill Defunding Planned Parenthood in Indiana, Of Course

Garbage governor is garbagey:

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed a measure to further restrict abortions in Indiana and make it the first state to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood.

WE'RE NUMBER ONE! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!

The Republican governor is considering a run for president in 2012, and adding his signature to the abortion bill could help his image among social conservatives who say they worry he's too much of a fiscal hawk to get involved in such issues as abortion.

The abortion bill wasn't on Daniels' legislative agenda, but he signed it Tuesday along with 79 other bills.

So much for that truce on social issues, eh, Mitch?

Planned Parenthood of Indiana says it will seek a temporary restraining order and injunction Tuesday in federal court to try to prevent the measure from taking effect.

Sob.

Principles!

GOP presidential nominee wannabe Tim Pawlenty has them!

HA HA JUST KIDDING.

Thursday night's Republican debate was worth watching if only to see Tim Pawlenty try to talk his way around his previous support for efforts to cut planet-warming emissions. As governor of Minnesota, Pawlenty not only acknowledged that climate change is a problem, but also endorsed a cap-and-trade plan to deal with it. That makes him something of a pariah among other Republicans these days.

In a very "This is Your Life" moment, the Fox debate hosts replayed a 2007 ad that Pawlenty recorded for the Environmental Defense Fund in which he argues for cap and trade as a solution for climate change. When asked to discuss the ad, Pawlenty abashedly replied, "Do we have to?"

After trying to explain that he didn't actually support cap and trade policy as governor—he just supported the "study" of it—Pawlenty decided to try apologizing:

"I've said I was wrong. It was a mistake, and I'm sorry," Mr. Pawlenty told the Fox television audience, presumably filled with potential Republican primary voters. "You're going to have a few clunkers in your record, and we all do, and that's one of mine. I just admit it. I don't try to duck it, bob it, weave it, try to explain it away. I'm just telling you, I made a mistake."

"I apologize from the bottom of my heart for ever having hinted that I have the capacity for reason. Please forgive me, Republican base."

Get Me to the Fainting Couch, Minerva!

I am positively SHOCKED, I tell you, to hear the news that the GOP's first presidential hopefuls debate tonight in South Carolina will be preceded by a "Freedom Rally" that is sponsored by rightwing extremists groups!

Fetch me the smelling salts and a mint julep! My heart can't handle the alarm that the GOP's big tent is not, in fact, full of diversity and rainbows, but a bunch of sad old white bigots!

Mercy.

* * *

In all seriousness, my optimism for progressive and inclusive change is nearly boundless. Frankly, it has to be to do this job every day. Not only do I expect more, but I quite genuinely hope and fervently believe that most people are capable of delivering better and coming to expect more of themselves, given the desire and opportunity.

But I did say nearly boundless—and the boundaries of my expectation go just as far as the borders of the Grand Old Party.

I have no hope for them. For them, I have naught but contempt.

And, apparently, Victorian sarcasm.