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Pennsylvania's high court ruled earlier this week that the Commonwealth Court must hear a challenge to the constitutionality of a law that limits the use of state Medicaid dollars to fund abortions.
Currently, Medicaid dollars can only be used to fund abortion in the cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
According to an Associated Press report, the lawsuit at issue was brought in 2019 by Planned Parenthood and some abortion clinic operators that said the restrictions were unconstitutional because they specifically discriminate against poor women.
"Contrary to what some may believe, this does not mean Pennsylvanians' tax dollars will be used to fund all abortions in the Commonwealth," Rep. Kathy Rapp and Rep. Kate Klunk, co-chairs of the Pro Life Caucus, said in a joint statement.
"Today's ruling does not change current Medicaid coverage guidelines."
Per the AP, the case "turns on the question of whether the state Medicaid law unconstitutionally singled out a procedure sought only by women and differentiated between women who carry to term and women who get an abortion.Women who get an abortion receive no government funding for the reproductive care they seek, while women who carry to term receive full coverage, the majority opinion said."
Rapp and Klunk say that the case is evidence that the Shapiro administration is "looking to liberalize our state's abortion law.
"We don't believe the majority of our citizens want their tax money funding abortions," they claim. "This case is not about whether abortion is a constitutional right. Rather, this case is about the constitutionality of taxpayer-funded abortions.
"As the PA Supreme Court already decided this issue in a unanimous opinion in 1985, we do not believe that decision should be disturbed," the representatives argue.
"We must allow the litigation process to reach its conclusion before deciding our next steps," they say. "We will continue to monitor this case until the court hands down a final decision. But rest assured, we will keep fighting for the Commonwealth's women, children and families."