Abortion rights activists demonstrating in support of women's rights in Santa Monica, California, last month.Abortion rights activists demonstrating in support of women's rights in Santa Monica, California, last month.Last modified on Sat 27 Aug 2022 12.14 BST
Pro-choice advocates spent weeks lobbying the governor’s office on the issue. On Friday, days before the end of the legislative session, Newsom and legislative leaders revealed an amendment to the budget that would allow the state to spend public money on out-of-state travel for abortions. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on it next week.
“As the governor has stated, California is doing its part, but we cannot do it all – private donations and philanthropy will be critical to these efforts,” Newsom’s spokesperson, Alex Stack, said.“We all need to step up to support women who are being denied reproductive freedoms by their state governments and are forced to come to California for abortion care.”
“None of that matters if we’re not also ensuring that patients can get to where they need to go,” she said. “Everyone deserves to get healthcare, including abortion, and unfortunately for half the country they need to travel outside the state they live in in order to get that.”