A coalition of organizations has sued the city of San Antonio for allocating hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for the purpose of sending women out of state to receive abortions.
In September, San Antonio adopted a fiscal year 2024 budget that begins on October 1 and includes $500,000 set aside in a “Reproductive Justice Fund.”
Council Members Marc Whyte and John Courage attempted to restrict the funds only to be used for “women’s reproductive health services that do not include abortion or access to abortion.” However, the remaining council voted against the motion, indicating that the abortion element was central to the fund’s purpose.
Council Member Teri Castillo applauded the passage of the fund, explaining, “The Reproductive Justice Fund will make clear to San Antonio residents and Texans across the state that San Antonio is committed to protecting the rights of women and all individuals in their pursuit of comprehensive reproductive and sexual healthcare,” per San Antonio Express-News.
However, a lawsuit filed by Texas Right to Life claims that the fund will violate Texas’ prohibitions against abortion by directing taxpayer expenditures to organizations seeking to perform these procedures.
The plaintiffs’ lawsuit names the city of San Antonio and its officials, alleging that the Reproductive Justice Fund will offer financial aid to organizations that cover the travel expenses of pregnant women who travel outside Texas to obtain an abortion or provide abortions to Texas residents.
The petition further states that “any grant of taxpayer money to criminal organizations that violate the state’s abortion laws is an ultra vires act that must be enjoined, regardless of how the recipient organization intends to use the money.”
John Seago, the president of Texas Right to Life, explained, “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,” per a statement received by The Dallas Express.
“We will be taking discovery from every one of these abortion funds to expose their violations of state law and the criminal activities of their members and donors,” Seago continued. “Any other city in Texas that tries to give taxpayer money to abortion funds or abortion-assistance organizations will be met with a similar lawsuit.”
Other organizations have joined Texas Right to Life as parties in the lawsuit, including the San Antonio Family Association, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Texas Leadership Coalition, Allied Women’s Center of San Antonio, Bexar County Republican Party, San Antonio Coalition for Life, and Unite San Antonio.
Laura Molinar, co-founder and co-executive director at Sueños Sin Fronteras de Tejas in San Antonio, defended the fund in an article she authored, claiming, “State law does not prohibit organizations from providing people with logistical support such as childcare, transportation costs, and hotel accommodations when traveling out of state for an abortion,” as posted by the San Antonio Report.
“The San Antonio Reproductive Justice Fund, controlled by the Metropolitan Health District, will directly support community-based organizations providing comprehensive reproductive and sexual health resources, services and education to community members disproportionately affected by barbaric and neglectful state policies,” Molinar continued.
