HyperLoop555

In an early decision involving abortion, newly confirmed Supreme Court Justice #BrettKavanaugh sided with liberals in declining to hear a case that could have allowed states to defund #PlannedParenthood in state #Medicaid programs. My colleague Kimberly Leonard has more background and details of the cases, but the basic gist is that lower court rulings prevented Louisiana and Kansas from blocking abortion provider Planned Parenthood from participating in Medicaid. The Supreme Court has now decided to pass on the cases. Only four justices are needed to agree to grant a hearing on any case. So to stop it from reaching the high court, it took Kavanaugh siding with Chief Justice John Roberts and liberal justices. Three conservative justices -- Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch -- all voted to hear the case. Supreme Court watchers are hanging on every sign from Kavanaugh and Roberts as to how they may rule on abortion given the new makeup of the bench. While it's