Citigroup Employee Benefit: Trips out Of Texas For Abortions

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Citigroup, the nation's fourth-largest bank, is angering Texas Republicans over its latest workplace benefit: Offering to cover the travel expenses of employees who live in states with restrictive reproductive health care laws, including the state's recently enacted law banning most abortions after six weeks, like the Heartbeat Act in Texas.

Republican Party of Texas chairman Matt Rinaldi called the policy "appalling" and said the party is urging Republicans to snub Citi's services. 

"Republicans should avoid entrusting their finances with Citibank and other companies that are hostile to them and their values," Rinaldi said.

Supporters of the Heartbeat Act say it has already saved hundreds of babies lives.

(Full story HERE.)
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Appeals Court Rebuffs Challenge To Heartbeat Law

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A Federal appeals court panel Monday rebuffed Texas abortion clinics’ plea to send what remains of their challenge against the state’s abortion ban back to the lower court that previously blocked the law, instead directing the case to the Texas Supreme Court for further interpretation.

The move prolongs the litigation over the anti-abortion statute, which has led to a dramatic reduction in the number of abortions performed in the state since it took effect in September.

(Full story HERE.)
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McConaughey Criticizes Parts Of Heartbeat Law

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Matthew McConaughey still isn’t ready to say if he’s running for governor, but the Hollywood actor offered a sliver of insight into his political position on abortion during an interview on a podcast with the New York Times.

McConaughey repeatedly veered away from policy specifics but made clear he is not a fan of Senate Bill 8, the legislation that has effectively banned abortion in Texas.

McConaughey said parts of the law, which was blocked by a federal judge Wednesday, are “a little juvenile” and said he didn’t agree with not having any exceptions for women who are victims of rape or incest.

During the podcast, he explicitly refused to go further in describing his views on abortion.

(Full story here.)
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Portland, Oregon City Council Ditches Texas Boycott

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Portland, Oregon's City Council voted on Wednesday to set aside $200,000 to fund abortion care in Oregon in anticipation of an uptick in Texans traveling to the state to access the procedure, but walked back a boycott of the state.

Mayor Ted Wheeler garnered nationwide attention two weeks ago with his proposal to boycott Texas over recently passed legislation that dramatically curtails abortion access. But the proposal shifted shape considerably after the city nabbed national headlines. 

The city ditched the two most eye-catching parts of the proposal — a boycott on city business with Texas and a ban on employee travel to the Lone Star state. Instead, city officials voted to set aside $200,000 that will go to organizations “that deliver programs and services related to reproductive health care.”

(Full story here.)
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Biden Administration To Sue Texas Over Heartbeat Law

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The Biden administration is preparing to sue Texas over its new law banning most abortions, people familiar with the matter said, an action that would set off a federal-state clash at a time when the future of abortion rights becomes an ever-more-pressing question before the courts.

The Biden administration has faced pressure from Democrats and abortion-rights groups to take action to stop the Texas restrictions after the Supreme Court last week allowed them to take effect.

Attorney General Ken Paxton reacted fiercely to the suit on Twitter.

"Today the Biden Administration sued every individual in Texas. Biden should focus on fixing the border crisis, Afghanistan, the economy and countless other disasters instead of meddling in state’s sovereign rights. I will use every available resource to fight for life."

(Full story here.)
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Satanic Temple Seeks "Religious Exception" To Heartbeat Law

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Texas’ controversial fetal heartbeat bill may have many fans among some religious communities — but the Satanic Temple isn’t among them.

The religion, which does not have or believe in gods, filed a letter with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to request its members have access to abortion pills on grounds of freedom of religion, Fortune reports.

This comes as the state of Texas passed the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws this past week. Under Senate Bill 8, abortions after six weeks of pregnancy are banned. The legislation was met with national and international controversy.

(Full story here.)
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Heartbeat Bill Signed By Gov. Abbott, Bans Abortions After Heartbeat Detected

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday signed the Heartbeat Bill, which would ban virtually all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, joining other states that have set up legal challenges to the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

The measure Abbott signed would allow most private citizens to sue an abortion provider if they suspect the provider has violated the new ban.

Supporters say the bill recognizes scientific advances in detecting the origins of life in the womb since the landmark 1973 Court decision.

The heartbeat bill was one of the Republican Party of Texas' eight legislative priorities for the current session of the state legislature.

(Full story here)
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