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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is telling a federal judge that Gov. Bobby Jindal's decision to oust Planned Parenthood from Louisiana's Medicaid program appears to violate federal law.
In a court filing, the DOJ says the Jindal administration hasn't offered "sufficient reasons" to keep Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast's clinics in New Orleans and Baton Rouge from receiving Medicaid payments.
The legal brief, called a "statement of interest," was filed Monday night ahead of a Wednesday hearing to determine whether Planned Parenthood will get a temporary restraining order blocking Jindal's efforts.
Jindal, a Republican presidential candidate, cited a provision in state law that allows cancellation of a Medicaid provider agreement with 30-day notice.
The Justice Department says Louisiana hasn't shown Planned Parenthood isn't a qualified Medicaid provider as required under federal law.
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