ST. LOUIS — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said Friday he intends to file suit to block any plans approved by ºüÀêÊÓƵ and ºüÀêÊÓƵ County officials to spend public money to help residents get abortions in Illinois or other states.
Schmitt cited a state law that bars any public funds from being used “for the purpose of performing or assisting an abortion†not necessary to save the life of the mother or to encourage or counsel a woman to have an abortion.
Legislation pending before the city Board of Aldermen and County Council would set aside $1 million apiece in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to fund transportation, child care and other logistical support for women wanting to access abortion in states where the practice remains legal.
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“Using hard-earned taxpayer dollars, whether it be ARPA funds or other forms of revenue, to fund abortions is plainly illegal under Missouri law,†Schmitt said in a statement.
Schmitt issued the statement as he entered the final month of his campaign for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination against several other well-known candidates.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Executive Sam Page, who endorsed the county proposal, also is in the middle of an election fight as he tries to fend off challenger Jane Dueker in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary.
Page on Wednesday noted that the county plan wouldn’t be spent on any abortion procedure or be used to encourage or counsel a procedure. Similar wording is in the city bill, which is supported by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, also a Democrat.
On Friday, Page spokesman Doug Moore said “we care about the health and safety of women. The AG has made it clear he does not. A court can decide on what is proper funding.â€
Jones on Friday said “the only thing Eric Schmitt loves more than wasting taxpayer dollars on his Senate campaign is attacking ºüÀêÊÓƵ families and our fundamental right to make our own private health care decisions.â€
The two measures were a response to Missouri’s abortion ban that was activated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last week to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision.
Schmitt in his statement also referred to a city ordinance passed Thursday in Kansas City that could reimburse city employees who need to travel to have an abortion.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told reporters Thursday that the way Kansas City’s legislation was written does not “welcome a legal challenge.â€
The Kansas City Star contributed to this report.
Updated at 2:45 p.m. Friday, July 1.