The Arizona House has given preliminary approval to surprise inspections at abortion clinics, like the ones health officials are already allowed to conduct at hospitals and nursing homes.

The legislation is virtually certain to be the target of a lawsuit after a federal appellate court struck down a similar bill saying it violated the Constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure in 2004.

State Rep. Mark Cardenas says if lawmakers are so anxious for another court fight, they should take money out of their own budgets and stop wasting taxpayer funds. 

That brought this response from State Rep. Debbie Lesko:

“If there's concern about lawsuit costs, I suggest that Mr. Cardenas and his fellow members that oppose the bill talk to Planned Parenthood and tell them not to sue, save the taxpayers lots of money,” Lesko said.

State health officials say they did not seek the change and were able to get an administrative search warrant the only time they needed one in the last three years.