Texas AG sues Austin over out-of-state abortion travel
Source: The Hill
09/27/24 3:00 PM ET
The Texas attorney general sued the city of Austin for allocating $400,000 in taxpayer funds to help local residents seek out-of-state abortions. Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the lawsuit Friday, alleging the Reproductive Health Grant violates a state constitution gift clause that prevents the government from using public money for an individuals benefit.
The citys one-time grant, which was approved by the Austin City Council in August, seeks to provide financial support for airfare, gas reimbursements, hotels, ride reimbursements, child care stipends, companion travel and food. No city in Texas has the authority to spend taxpayer money in this manner, Paxton said in a statement.
Paxton called the effort illegal and is seeking a temporary restraining order to pause the distribution of funds until a ruling is reached. Don Zimmerman, a former Austin council member, filed a lawsuit under the same allocation in August. In regards to Paxtons case, an Austin city spokesman told The Hill they are aware of the filing and shared they have successfully litigated this issue in the past.
The city plans to respond to allegations through court channels. Kirk Watson, the citys mayor, called the attorney generals effort an exploitation of power. Texas women deserve better than to have their state and Ken Paxton attacking their fundamental freedoms, Watson added.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4903954-texas-attorney-general-suing-austin/
sakabatou
(43,195 posts)Comfortably_Numb
(4,118 posts)surfered
(3,529 posts)
before birth and they wont help you after. If you want to have a family, youll need to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot. Its truly become a matter of life and death.
peppertree
(22,850 posts)That's always been the real abortion care policy in the Deep South.