John Kasich Will Sign Bill To Defund Planned Parenthood In His State

WASHINGTON -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has positioned himself as one of the more moderate Republican presidential contenders, plans to sign a bill that strips government funding from Planned Parenthood clinics in his state, his spokesman told HuffPost on Wednesday. 

The Ohio bill, which state legislators passed Wednesday, prohibits state and certain federal funds from going to facilities that perform and promote "nontherapeutic abortions." This exempts abortions performed in cases of rape, incest and life endangerment. Once the bill is signed, about $1.3 million in grants that Planned Parenthood receives from Ohio's Department of Health will be redirected away from the organization. These funds go to programs that help prevent infant mortality and domestic violence, as well as promote HIV testing and screenings for breast and cervical cancer.