AUSTIN (January 2, 2013)—State District Judge Gary Harger has ruled that the state may cut off funding to Planned Parenthood's family planning programs for low-income women.

Lauren Bean, a spokeswoman for the state’s attorney general, said Harger ruled that Texas may exclude otherwise qualified doctors and clinics from receiving state funding just because they advocate for abortion rights.

The state has long banned the use of state funds for abortion.

At issue was whether Planned Parenthood and other abortion-rights groups could continue to provide preventive health care to poor women as part of the Women's Health Program.

The program provides check-ups and birth control to 110,000 poor women and 48,000 of them go to Planned Parenthood clinics.

Planned Parenthood asked for a restraining order against enforcing the ban on them, arguing it violates state law.