Texas lawmakers look at banning companies that help employees seek abortions

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A bunch of Republican state lawmakers are getting ready a plan that will maintain personal corporations from serving to staff search abortions outdoors of Texas, ought to Roe v. Wade be overturned, based on the Texas Tribune.

The Tribune studies a gaggle of 14 GOP legislators throughout the State Home of Representatives despatched a letter to the CEO of Lyft final Wednesday.

The letter reportedly outlined a plan that would come with the introduction of payments within the subsequent legislative session that will ban corporations from doing enterprise within the state if they provide abortion-related well being care.

The trouble is being led by Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park. His workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from KXAN on Monday.

In late April, Lyft CEO Logan Green tweeted the corporate would cowl journey prices for workers who’re enrolled in a medical profit plan and have to journey greater than 100 miles to search out an in-network abortion supplier.

Lyft additionally introduced it will cowl 100% of authorized charges for drivers sued below each state’s abortion legal guidelines.

If the U.S. Supreme Court docket strikes down Roe v. Wade, a state “set off legislation” would ban almost all abortion procedures in Texas, with the one exceptions being to save lots of the lifetime of the pregnant particular person or maintain them from critical impairment.

Josh Clean with UT Austin’s Texas Politics Mission mentioned the letter to Lyft places GOP management, together with Gov. Greg Abbott, in a tough place as they work to lure extra corporations to the Lone Star State and maintain those already right here.

That embrace Tesla, which has additionally mentioned it will staff with out-of-state abortions.

“The connection between the Republican Occasion and enterprise has been strained in recent times, as companies have felt compelled to take stances on a number of social points,” Clean mentioned.

The Tribune reported a minimum of half the lawmakers who signed the Lyft letter are members of the ultra-conservative Texas Freedom Caucus.

Clean mentioned that’s telling.

“I believe there’s a motive that the present dustup with Lyft is coming from the Freedom Caucus within the Texas Home and never instantly from the governor,” he mentioned.

KXAN reached out to Gov. Abbott’s workplace together with the places of work of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Home Speaker Dade Phelan. None replied to a request for remark.