A.G. Gancarski
Emergency legislation to be introduced next week in the Jacksonville City Council would pay city employees up to $4,000 for travel related to medical procedures unavailable locally.
As major corporations review helping their employees to travel to escape bans on abortions, Democrat Reggie Gaffney wants to offer the same incentive for city workers.
Ordinance 2022-401 contemplates “up to $4,000 in travel expenses annually for any medical treatments (including medication, procedures, or operations) related to reproductive rights if that medical treatment is not available within 100 miles of the employee’s home and virtual care is not possible.”
“Reproductive rights as used herein means the rights of an individual to decide whether to reproduce and have reproductive health,” the language continues. “This may include an individual’s right to plan a family, terminate a pregnancy, use contraceptives, and gain access to reproductive health services.”
The bill as filed contemplates a start date of July 1, and as introduced, it would have referral to four of the five standing committees of the Council if it went through the normal process. The bill also would be contingent on collective bargaining, though it’s hard to imagine a union resisting a benefit voluntarily conferred by an employer.
Gaffney offered a statement on the bill Friday: “As a man of faith, using this would not be my personal preference. However, as a legislator I represent all people and I will fight for their freedom and their right to have options, and every woman deserves this option. That is why I’ve filed this bill.”
We have reached out to Mayor Lenny Curry, a Republican who has not historically spoken out in favor of reproductive rights, to see where his administration is on the proposed legislation. Of note, Gaffney’s brother, Johnny, endorsed Curry for Mayor in 2015, and works in the Mayor’s Office.
The Jacksonville City Council has a Republican supermajority, which may complicate passage of this bill, and may also prevent the desired one-cycle consideration. It would take a 2/3 vote for the Council to take the bill up on a one-cycle basis.
“Emergency one-cycle passage of this legislation is requested. The nature of the emergency is that the Council desires to establish this new employee benefit as soon as possible to provide a resource for employees given uncertainty in federal and state law as to reproductive rights at this time,” the bill language reads.
10 comments
Godless Gaffney
May 20, 2022 at 12:57 pm
Gaffney always proclaims to be a man of God. what a hypocrite he is,,, I don’t think killing babies is something God would approve of. One day Gaffney will have to stand at the pearly gates and face judgment, good luck
AM
May 20, 2022 at 1:22 pm
I really hope that normal people can see through how ridiculous this is it’s called using a condom and people need to learn
Hypcrite Gaffney
May 20, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Gaffney always proclaims to be a man of God,, looks like he is not. when he stands at the Pearly Gates, don’t think God will look upon him favorably
Baby Killer Gaffney
May 20, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Gaffney is not the man of God that always proclaims to be, wants to kill babies
PeterH
May 20, 2022 at 1:40 pm
A fetus is not a baby.
25% of Floridians live below the poverty level. It makes absolutely no sense to bring more unwanted children into America’s toxic environment for children.
Wow
May 20, 2022 at 2:17 pm
We can pay $4000 to kill an innocent human being, but not to support the baby?
Tell me when
May 20, 2022 at 4:26 pm
“A fetus is not a baby.”
You weren’t? When did you become human? Tell me the moment. Was it fairy dust that descended upon you? Or was it the judgment of some great scientist who peered into your mother’s womb and said, ” Oh well, what the hell. It guess this one is good?”
Nancy
May 20, 2022 at 4:57 pm
$16,000 or even more is very simple and easy to earns while staying and working online. start receiving paychecks every month simply by doing work online.nhg i recently received $17493 in my bank of my last month’s working. i just gave this job 2 hours maximum from my day. simple and easy home based job.
Go here for info………… 𝗕𝗨𝗭𝗭𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡.𝗖𝗢𝗠
Frankie M.
May 20, 2022 at 6:41 pm
I can tell how this is gonna go over with the whine & 🧀 crowd. We all know how this movie will end.
MK
May 23, 2022 at 2:34 pm
I appreciate the city councilman’s efforts .
How about giving mothers and young women the actual support they need instead of pretending that no one is having sex outside of marriage. This issue is about control of woman pure and simple. They will be coming for birth control next. They want to see LGBTQ rights erased and Black, Latinx, and all under represented minorities kept from voting. The culture war of a few forced upon the masses.
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