Several anti-abortion groups on Tuesday tooklegalactionagainst the city of San Antonio over the city’s strategy to develop a reproductive justice fund and supply $500,000 to companies that deal Texans reproductive care.
The suit looksfor to put a stop to the reproductive justice fund, which, it declares, would offer taxpayers’ dollars to “criminal companies that break the state’s abortion laws” by assisting individuals get abortions out of state. Because Texas law prohibits anyperson from assisting “procure” an abortion, the suit argues, “if any part of the ‘procurement’ activity takesplace within Texas, then the act is criminal even if the abortion that hasactually been ‘procured’ takes location exterior the state.”
It’s not yet clear, nevertheless, whether the $500,000 dedicated to the reproductive justice fund – out of the city’s $3.7bn budgetplan for 2024 – will in truth go towards groups that aid individuals get abortions or rather be utilized to fund other kinds of reproductive services. In a proposition for the fund seen by the Guardian, reproductive justice companies recommended that the cash assistance a broad range of triggers, consistingof broadening gainaccessto to pregnancy tests, diapers and doulas as well as covering travel to abortion centers outdoors of Texas. It would not pay straight for abortion treatments.
“It’s a pity that such a detailed effort that intends to really enhance the health results of our San Antonio neighborhood is being minimized to falseinformation,” stated Laura Molinar, co-director of Sueños Sin Fronteras de Tejas, one of the companies that promoted the Reproductive Justice Fund’s production. “I’m at a loss for words, since I’m simply so distressed.”
The San Antonio city lawyer, Andy Segovia, stated that no choice hasactually been made on how the cash in the reproductive justice fund will be utilized. The city council will hold an open work session to talkabout the problem.
“It is regrettable taxpayer funds will be invested on safeguarding versus this suit based on falseinformation and incorrect accusations,” Segovia stated in a declaration. “The funds will be dispersed in accordance with state and federal laws.”
The suit is the mostcurrent volley in the pitched fight inbetween Texas abortion rights companies and Jonathan Mitchell, a previous Texas lawyer basic who is credited with pioneering the unique legal method behind the Texas six-week abortion restriction (which went into result in 2021 regardlessof flying in the face of Roe