A lawsuit was filed Thursday by the Missouri Attorney General against the City of St. Louis over a measure passed to allocate US$1 million in federal funds to help people move out of state to get an abortion.
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Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court, Missouri is among the states that have severely limited or banned abortion.
In order to deal with this decision, the City of Saint-Louis chose to pass a bill to set up the “Reproductive Equity Fund”, which is intended to give “logistical support” to women who wish to have an abortion. It includes, in particular, funding for transportation and childcare.
“The abortion ban hurts workers who cannot afford childcare, hotel accommodations or time off work because they need access to health care. abortion,” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said Thursday, according to CNN.
But shortly after the bill was signed, State Attorney General Eric Schmitt decided to sue the City, arguing that the move violates state law.
“By administering this fund, public employees will assist or encourage abortion by processing requests for public funds to cover costs incurred in obtaining abortions,” Schmitt said in a written statement.
In addition to the amount earmarked for logistical support, the City provides US$500,000 for other types of reproductive care, such as breastfeeding support.
A preliminary injunction has also been filed by the Attorney General to prevent the creation of the fund.
“I will not back down when our adversaries threaten, intimidate or belittle our city,” the mayor said, according to the American media, “especially the attorney general, who is more concerned with the hunt for power than with care.”