Missouri AG calls abortion legislation from Kansas City, St. Louis 'plainly illegal'
The day after the Kansas City Council approved legislation that could reimburse city employees who need to travel to have an abortion — and after St. Louis began pursuing similar legislation — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt called the efforts “plainly illegal.”
Kansas City’s ordinance, which passed 10-2 during Thursday’s meeting, could reimburse city employees for health care-related travel expenses outside of Kansas City.
The legislation approved Thursday directs the City Manager Brian Platt to negotiate with Healthcare System Board of Trustees on the city’s insurance plans. Any changes will require further approval from the City Council.
The St. Louis ordinance would use federal COVID-19 relief funds for a $1 million “Reproductive Equity Fund,” for logistical support such as travel; the money would not fund abortion procedures. And, unlike Kansas City’s, it is not restricted to only city employees.
Link to tweet
https://www.yahoo.com/news/missouri-ag-calls-abortion-legislation-160335526.html
KC Council says abortion is a human right, could reimburse travel and care costs for staff
Criminalizing reproductive rights will perpetuate an unjust system and compound racial disparities in health, Kansas City Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw said, as the council approved two pieces of legislation Thursday to support those rights.
“The system has been failing us for years,” Parks-Shaw, District 5, said.
The first ordinance, which passed 10-2 during Thursday’s meeting, could reimburse city employees for health care-related travel expenses outside of Kansas City. Councilmembers Heather Hall, District 1, and Dan Fowler, District 2, voted no.
The council also unanimously passed a resolution declaring reproductive rights are human rights. Both were passed through the same-day adoption process, which requires a supermajority of votes.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/kc-council-says-abortion-human-224714496.html
