Posted on Aug 21, 2022
St. Louis argues Missouri Attorney General can't sue city over abortion access funding
569
18
3
10
10
0
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued the city of St. Louis to block it from using federal funds to support access to abortion. The city argues that the law he cites violates the First Amendment and the supremacy clause.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt relied on an unconstitutional law when he sued the City of St. Louis to block it from using federal funds to support access to abortion, an attorney for the city argued in a counterclaim filed Wednesday.
The lawsuit, which has been moved to federal court, centers on legislation that established a Reproductive Equity Fund.
The fund grants the St. Louis Department of Health the authority to dole out $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to organizations providing logistical support, like to cover costs of travel or childcare, for those accessing abortions out-of-state.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt relied on an unconstitutional law when he sued the City of St. Louis to block it from using federal funds to support access to abortion, an attorney for the city argued in a counterclaim filed Wednesday.
The lawsuit, which has been moved to federal court, centers on legislation that established a Reproductive Equity Fund.
The fund grants the St. Louis Department of Health the authority to dole out $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to organizations providing logistical support, like to cover costs of travel or childcare, for those accessing abortions out-of-state.
St. Louis argues Missouri Attorney General can't sue city over abortion access funding
Posted from kcur.org
St. Louis
Abortion
Medical
Health
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
4
4
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good morning Brother William, solid read and share, keep them coming.
(4)
(0)
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The city’s argument relies on three claims.
First, the city argues that the American Rescue Plan, approved by Congress last year, was designed to assist local governments recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. And since COVID-19 precautions disrupted access to reproductive healthcare, the city believes its plan is lawful under federal law.
Therefore, the city argues the state law prohibiting use of public funds to ensure access to abortion violates the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Second, the state law bars public funds, employees or facilities from being used to “assist” or “encourage” abortion, which the city argues unconstitutionally restricts speech that is protected under the First Amendment.
Third, the city argues the law being cited by Schmitt to support his lawsuit violates the state constitution by infringing on St. Louis’ authority as a charter city to cooperate with the federal government to distribute funds."
..."The city’s argument relies on three claims.
First, the city argues that the American Rescue Plan, approved by Congress last year, was designed to assist local governments recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. And since COVID-19 precautions disrupted access to reproductive healthcare, the city believes its plan is lawful under federal law.
Therefore, the city argues the state law prohibiting use of public funds to ensure access to abortion violates the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Second, the state law bars public funds, employees or facilities from being used to “assist” or “encourage” abortion, which the city argues unconstitutionally restricts speech that is protected under the First Amendment.
Third, the city argues the law being cited by Schmitt to support his lawsuit violates the state constitution by infringing on St. Louis’ authority as a charter city to cooperate with the federal government to distribute funds."
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google