Pro-life groups sue San Antonio over abortion fund.
Texas Right to Life Files Lawsuit Against San Antonio Over Allocation of Taxpayer Money for Out-of-State Abortions
Texas Right to Life and other pro-life groups have taken legal action against the city of San Antonio for its decision to allocate $500,000 of taxpayer money to a fund that supports women seeking out-of-state abortions. This move comes after the San Antonio City Council approved a $3.7 billion budget for 2024, which included the establishment of a “reproductive justice fund.”
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The lawsuit argues that by including this allocation in the budget, the city is forcing taxpayers to contribute to a fund that violates state abortion laws. The money from the fund will be provided as grants to organizations such as Jane’s Due Process, Avow, the Buckle Bunnies Fund, Sueños Sin Fronteras, and the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity, which support women seeking out-of-state abortions.
Texas Right to Life aims to prevent San Antonio from providing any funds to these “anti-life organizations” through the lawsuit filed in Bexar County. According to Texas Right to Life, it is a criminal offense in Texas to engage in conduct that procures a drug-induced abortion, even if the abortion is performed out of state.
The lawsuit argues that supporting organizations involved in breaking the law, even if the funds are not specifically meant for abortion, is not permissible. Attorneys for Texas Right to Life have issued litigation-hold letters to Texas abortion support organizations, instructing them to preserve all records and evidence related to their assistance in abortions since September 2021.
The attorneys plan to seek discovery to prove that these abortion funds are violating Texas abortion laws. They aim to uncover any potential breaches of state legislation, which could lead to legal consequences and lawsuits for the staff, board members, volunteers, and contributors of these organizations under the Texas Heartbeat Act.
“We will not allow the City of San Antonio to give taxpayer money to criminal organizations that engage in abortion trafficking and disregard the Pro-Life laws of our state,” said Texas Right to Life President John Seago.
Seago also warned other Texas cities that they may face similar lawsuits if they allocate taxpayer money to abortion funds or abortion-assistance organizations. Despite the defeat of a “far-left” ballot initiative to decriminalize abortion in the City Charter, the San Antonio City Council continues to advocate for abortion policies, according to Texas Right to Life.
City Attorney Andy Segovia responded to the lawsuit, stating that the city has not yet decided how the money will be spent. He rejected the premise of the lawsuit, asserting that the funds will be distributed in accordance with state and federal laws.
Initially, Texas abortion funds refrained from supporting travel and procedures after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. However, they resumed their support in February following a federal judge’s ruling that they were likely safe from criminal prosecution.
Mr. Segovia vehemently rejected the premise of the lawsuit, asserting that it was “based on misinformation and false allegations.” The lawsuit is being led by attorney Jonathan Mitchell, who played a key role in designing legislation that led to Texas’s six-week abortion ban.
How does Texas Right to Life claim that the city of San Antonio’s support for organizations involved in procuring drug-induced abortions is facilitating illegal activity
Ife supporters hold signs during a rally against abortion in Austin, Texas, on May 22, 2020. (Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images)
The allocation of taxpayer money to organizations supporting out-of-state abortions has raised concerns and opposition from pro-life groups. Texas Right to Life, in particular, argues that this action undermines state laws regarding abortion and is in direct conflict with their beliefs and values. They believe that the city’s decision to allocate this amount of taxpayer money to support abortion services, even if indirectly, is a violation of their conscience rights.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that these organizations are directly associated with the procurement and facilitation of abortions, which goes against Texas law. While the funds may not be specifically designated for abortions, the provision of financial support ultimately aids in the process. Texas Right to Life argues that this violates their rights as taxpayers, as they are being forced to contribute to organizations involved in activities that they morally object to.
The lawsuit also sheds light on the criminal aspect of engaging in conduct that procures a drug-induced abortion, even if performed out of state. Texas Right to Life asserts that by supporting organizations involved in such conduct, the city of San Antonio is implicitly condoning and facilitating illegal activity. This further strengthens their claim that the allocation of taxpayer money for these purposes is unlawful and should be halted immediately.
In taking legal action against the city of San Antonio, Texas Right to Life hopes to prevent any further funding from being allocated to these organizations. They believe that taxpayer money should not be used to support activities that directly contradict their pro-life stance. The lawsuit serves as a means to protect their rights and ensure that their taxpayer dollars are not being used to support organizations that they fundamentally oppose.
The impact of this lawsuit extends beyond the specific case against San Antonio. Texas Right to Life’s actions send a clear message to other cities and municipalities that similar actions will not be tolerated, and that pro-life groups are willing to fight for their beliefs and values in a legal setting. It also serves as a reminder that the contentious issue of abortion continues to be a significant point of debate and contention in Texas, with both sides actively working to make their voices heard.
Regardless of the outcome of this particular lawsuit, the battle over the allocation of taxpayer money for out-of-state abortions highlights the ongoing struggle between pro-life advocates and proponents of reproductive rights. It brings attention to the complexities surrounding abortion legislation and the different perspectives held by individuals and groups within society.
The decision of the court in this case will have far-reaching implications, not only in terms of the allocation of taxpayer funds but also in shaping the broader conversation around abortion rights and the limits of government intervention. Whether this lawsuit will ultimately succeed in preventing further funding for out-of-state abortions remains to be seen, but it undeniably represents a significant step in the ongoing battle over abortion legislation in Texas.
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