Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal action against the City of Austin, as per a recent announcement from his office. The lawsuit claims that the city is unlawfully spending taxpayer funds to facilitate out-of-state abortion travel for its residents. According to Paxton’s office, $400,000 of public money has been allocated in Austin's budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025 under the "Reproductive Health Grant." The news release outlines that the grant provides for an array of travel-related expenses, including airfare, hotel stays, and childcare for those seeking abortions outside the state.
In line with the Texas Constitution’s Gift Clause, Paxton argues that this allocation of funds violates state law which precludes cities and other state subdivisions from granting public money to individuals. Eager to stop this use of taxpayer funds, Paxton has sought a temporary restraining order. Further remedies pursued by the Attorney General include temporary and permanent injunctions aiming to prohibit Austin from distributing the funds reserved for abortion-related travel support.
"No city in Texas has the authority to spend taxpayer money in this manner," was Paxton’s condemnation of Austin's actions in the official press release from the Attorney General of Texas . He added, "In this case, the City of Austin is illegally seeking to use public funding to support travel expenses for out-of-state abortions."
The lawsuit has sparked discussion in the capital city, where local officials argue that the grant is a crucial response to increasing obstacles to reproductive health services in Texas. The City of Austin has not yet formally responded to the lawsuit and must now address the complexities of state constitutional law alongside its goal to support medical services for its residents.
