The Idaho House of Representatives passed a bill to bar public funding for abortion providers for any purposes, along with entities affiliated with them. Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, HB 220 would halt all public funding, from all levels of government, to Planned Parenthood or any other entity that provides abortions or abortion counseling, or any person or entity affiliated with them. The bill has 15 co-sponsors, all Republicans. The bill passed 55-14 after some debate, primarily centered on whether the bill goes far enough to address the issue by not outlawing abortion outright. Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, objected to exemptions provided by the bill. Exemptions would be provided to hospitals, Medicaid transactions governed by federal law, and for abortions performed “when the life of the mother is endangered by a physical disorder." Read more...