Tesla pays travel prices for workers looking for abortion services

Tesla is masking travel costs for employees in search of out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of major firms who’ve launched an identical policy to learn staff affected by new restrictions in the past few months.

The company mentioned in its 2021 “ Influence Report ” released Friday that it expanded its Security Net program and medical health insurance offerings final yr to include “travel and lodging help for many who may have to seek healthcare companies that are unavailable of their dwelling state.”

The car maker formally moved its corporate headquarters last year from Silicon Valley to Texas, which passed a regulation banning abortions at roughly six weeks of pregnancy.

Other states have since introduced new restrictions, and a political firestorm was set off this week with the leaked draft of a Supreme Courtroom opinion that may abolish a nationwide right to an abortion.

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking purpose at corporations providing to help ladies seeking abortions in states with much less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has said he would suggest legislation barring local governments in the state from doing enterprise with any company that provides travel advantages for employees in search of abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio launched a invoice on Wednesday that would prohibit companies from claiming tax deductions for such costs.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk did not immediately respond to a request for remark, but he tweeted in September that he believes “government ought to hardly ever impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That mentioned, I would favor to remain out of politics.”