PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Thursday, St. Pete City Council rejected the vote for $50,000 to the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund.
The money would not directly pay for an abortion but would pay travel costs for St. Pete residents who have to leave the state to get an abortion because they are not eligible for an abortion under Florida abortion laws.
"We're offering this money just for you to be able to overcome logistical hurdles," Councilman Richie Floyd said.
The vote is getting a lot of attention and action from both abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion advocates.
A representative from the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund, the group that would get this money, said it will go a long way for St. Pete women who are seeking an abortion.
“We're helping a lot of St. Pete residents on a weekly and monthly basis, so it would absolutely go far and do a lot of good,” McKenna Kelley said.
Bree Wallace, a leadership volunteer with Tampa Bay Abortion Fund, said it's already helped more women in the past three months than it did all of last year.
"Right now, at 15 weeks, we're already spending 60,000 a year getting people to travel. Six weeks, that's going to more than triple, I can already assume. So I think it is disappointing that that happened," Wallace explained.
We also spoke to a member of the Florida Reborn Rescue Group. He said he thinks that the city council is pushing its own agenda. He also said the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund is not where he wants his tax dollars to go.
“We're definitely frustrated that they want to use taxpayer funds towards abortion costs, and again this is no measure that we as taxpayers voted in favor of," Corey Givens Junior said.
St Pete resident, Stephanie McBride, agreed.
"I obviously have a moral stance against it as well, but coming from a taxpayer standpoint, we should not be forced as taxpayers to pay for anyone who wants to try and thwart Florida state law," McBride said.
This vote has drawn a lot of attention from Florida Lawmakers. Two state representatives recently sent a letter to the City of St. Pete threatening to withhold state funds if they approve this.
The representatives argue that it's illegal for a government entity to provide funds to a group affiliated with an organization that provides abortions.
"We will do everything we can in our power to make sure no funding is going to any municipality, especially one that is going to send money to abortion providers we will be very active in that," Berny Jacques, Florida State Rep., said.
Meanwhile, Floyd said he understands this was a difficult decision to consider.
"I don't blame any of my colleagues for struggling with it but I will not compromise my values because of threats and I will not be blackmailed out of doing what I believe is right. I don't care what anyone at the state has to say," Floyd added.
Mayor Welch posted his response on Twitter.
Inclusive governance requires the free and open discussion of ideas and proposals in the public square. Deliberation is critical to the legislative process in St.Petersburg, as it should be in all legislative bodies.
— Ken Welch (@MayorKenWelch) March 24, 2023
“Inclusive governance requires the free and open discussion of ideas and proposals in the public square. Deliberation is critical to the legislative process in St. Petersburg, as it should be in all legislative bodies.
I, as Mayor, the St. Petersburg City Council, and the St. Pete residents we serve, embrace our responsibilities to our great community, including our duty to review and debate all issues of importance to our City without regard to threats and attempts to intimidate.
As a home rule city, we have a process, and we will continue to follow that process of committee and council review, and my administrative decision, on the issue of funding for the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund. "
