Tesla can pay journey costs for employees in search of abortion providers

Tesla is masking journey costs for workers searching for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of main corporations who’ve introduced the same policy to learn employees affected by new restrictions previously few months.

The corporate said in its 2021 “ Influence Report ” launched Friday that it expanded its Safety Web program and medical insurance offerings final year to incorporate “journey and lodging assist for many who might have to seek healthcare services which are unavailable in their dwelling state.”

The automobile maker officially moved its corporate headquarters final yr from Silicon Valley to Texas, which handed a legislation banning abortions at roughly six weeks of pregnancy.

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

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking intention at corporations offering to help ladies searching for abortions in states with less restrictive laws.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has stated he would suggest legislation barring native governments in the state from doing enterprise with any company that gives journey benefits for employees in search of abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio launched a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit firms from claiming tax deductions for such prices.

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