Texas Legislators Threaten Sidley Over Abortion Care Travel Costs

[In It to Win It]

Above the Law

Well, we knew it’d come to this. Right-wing, anti-choice legislators are unhappy merely regulating women’s bodies within the borders of their state, so they’ve kicked it up a notch. In the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning the constitutional protections for reproductive freedom in Roe v. Wade, a number of employers have promised to pay travel costs for any employee who seeks abortion care but cannot access it in their home state. And Biglaw has also stepped up on this issue. Yes, it continues to be bullshit that we’re depending on corporations and employers for bodily autonomy, but until there is a more lasting solution, this employment benefit could make all the difference in the world for someone who wants an abortion now.

But as band-aid-like as this temporary solution is, some Texas legislators are determined to ban that practice as well. Their latest target? Biglaw giant Sidley.

Yesterday, Sidley Chair Yvette Ostolaza received a letter (below) from the ironically named Texas Freedom Caucus threatening the firm for taking care of the healthcare needs of its employees:

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. Vinson& Elkins will be in this club

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/texas-law-firm-touting-abortion-aid-backs-governors-urging-bans

Vinson & Elkins said in the aftermath of the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade that it would cover the cost of employees’ out-of-state travel for abortions. That includes in Texas, where a new state law signed by Abbott largely banned abortions and targets those who assist residents in getting access to the medical service.

[gratuitous]

2. What next will the government tell us we can't spend our own money on?

Of course, if these big industrial concerns want to avoid this nonsense, they can always headquarter in a different state. I wonder how that might impact the tax base in Texas?

[Hassler]

3. The Death Panels we heard about.

[Skittles]

4. wait, I thought they believed in "states rights"

yeah right

[0rganism]

5. I wonder if any firearms manufacturers have made these allowances

trying to crack down on e.g. Remington for abortion travel benefits would tie their amygdalas in knots

[irisblue]

6. Getting into a fight with a multi state & multinational law firm with 2000+attorneys

Is truly a public pud pulling event by the 'Texas Freedom Caucus'.

[In It to Win It]

7. It makes me kinda laugh when

they mention that this new legislation when have a similar civil enforcement action that the current law has where private individuals can sue for $10K for those that aid in getting abortions... because who would be willing to sue them? Who would be willing to sue this giant law firm? or Miscrosoft? or Disney? or whoever else?

This would be the hardest $10K you will have ever worked for in your life with their mountains of lawyers. Good luck ever collecting that $10K.

[mopinko]

8. yeah, pullin on superman's cape.