Hillary Clinton’s latest email scandal wasn’t the only important news that was dumped on the public on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day. The government also tried to hide a proposed new federal regulation that would prohibit states from defunding abortion providers.

LifeSiteNews is reporting on the controversial move by the Obama Administration to bar states from denying Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers millions of dollars of Title X family planning funds based on any criteria “unrelated to the provider’s ability to provide the services required.”

“Since 2011, 13 states have placed restrictions on or eliminated sub-awards with specific types of providers,” the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wrote. “In at least several instances, this has led to disruption of services or reduction of services.”

As LifeSite reports, pro-life Congressional leaders are calling the move yet another example of Barack Obama using the full resources of the federal government to benefit special interest groups such as Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, at taxpayers’ expense.

“This latest stunt from President Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services should surprise absolutely no one,” said Congressman Diane Black. “We’ve known all along that the Obama Administration will go to untold lengths to protect its friends in the big abortion industry. After all, this Administration has previously used backdoor maneuvers to line Planned Parenthood’s pockets with Obamacare navigator grants and praised the abortion provider’s ‘high ethical standard’ even after it was caught trafficking in baby body parts.”

However, she adds, “Now, they have taken the unprecedented step of thwarting states’ rights with a shady proposed rule change that prevents states from funding the providers who will best serve their citizens.”

For example, in the state of Tennessee, Title X funding provided by the HHS is doled out by the state to county health departments, who then determine appropriate sub-grantees. All 95 counties have identified community health centers and other providers aside from Planned Parenthood who meet all Title X eligibility criteria to receive this funding, effectively cutting off Planned Parenthood’s access to Title X funds in the state of Tennessee.

The proposed new rule from HHS would directly undermine this process and force the state to fund abortion providers.

“In the coming days, I intend to lead a letter expressing the deep concerns of Members of Congress on this proposal, but we won’t stop there,” Congressman Black promises.

“We must use the full force of Congress and the grassroots strength of the national pro-life movement to defeat this absurd rule and prevent the Obama Administration from acting unilaterally to carry out political favors and prop up a scandal-ridden abortion provider.”

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