Missouri’s attorney general sues St. Louis over allocating funds to support access to abortions out of state

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After the high court’s determination on June 24, St. Louis metropolis officers handed a bill aiming to create the Reproductive Fairness Fund supposed to deliver what it describes as “logistical assistance” for men and women searching for abortion.

That help contains, but is not minimal to, funding childcare, transportation and other desires, in accordance to the evaluate.

“Abortion bans harm the doing work people today who cannot afford to pay for little one care, a lodge or time off from function since they require entry to abortion treatment,” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones stated Thursday when signing the monthly bill.

Following the bill’s signing, Missouri Attorney Standard Eric Schmitt sued the city, arguing that the measure violates condition legislation.

“In controlling that fund, public workers will be aiding or encouraging abortion by processing claims for public cash to cover charges incurred in acquiring abortions,” Schmitt explained in a prepared statement.

The city’s monthly bill precisely prohibits the revenue from becoming applied for funding abortion treatments or counseling a lady to have an abortion. The invoice is working with federal pounds from the American Rescue Strategy — a huge Covid-19 financial reduction package signed by President Joe Biden in March 2021.

In addition to the $1 million for abortion logistical support, the bill sets aside yet another $500,000 for other styles of treatment reproductive care, which include accessibility to doulas and lactation aid.

The measure aims to affirm residents’ legal rights “to manage private bodily autonomy, make personalized decisions about if, when, and how to set up a loved ones, together with choices about abortion,” according to its textual content.

The lawyer common also filed a preliminary injunction requesting that St. Louis does not build the Reproductive Equity Fund.

Schmitt experienced threatened to file suit prior to Thursday’s monthly bill signing, but the mayor was undeterred.

“I will not back down when our opponents threaten, bully or demean our town,” claimed the mayor, “specially the attorney standard, who is extra concerned about chasing clout than treatment.”

CNN has reached out to St. Louis city officers for comment on the lawsuit.

CNN’s Tina Burnside contributed to this report.

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