Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the City of Austin to stop the city from using public funds to cover expenses for women traveling out of state for abortions.
The lawsuit centers on the city's budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which includes $400,000 allocated for a "Reproductive Health Grant." This grant aims to support residents traveling to access abortion services and covers costs such as airfare, gas reimbursements, hotel stays, ride reimbursements, childcare stipends, companion travel, and food.
According to Paxton, this appropriation violates the Texas Constitution's Gift Clause. The clause states that the Legislature cannot authorize any county, city, town, or other political subdivision of the State to lend its credit or grant public money or things of value in aid of any individual.
Paxton is seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent any distribution of these funds while litigation is ongoing. He also requested temporary and permanent injunctions to prohibit Austin from spending taxpayer money on logistical support for abortions.
"No city in Texas has the authority to spend taxpayer money in this manner. In this case, the City of Austin is illegally seeking to use public funding to support travel expenses for out-of-state abortions," said Attorney General Paxton. "The Texas Constitution prohibits governmental entities from doing so."
To read the filing, click here.