On May 19, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed legislation banning virtually all abortions in Texas and creating a system of vigilante justice to enforce the ban. The new law, which went into effect on September 1, bans all abortions after four to six weeks of pregnancy — before many women even know they are pregnant. The ban is enforced by private citizens who can sue people who help women obtain an abortion and collect a bounty of $10,000 or more.
“The spokesperson also noted that, under Texas law, the $50,000 donation from AT&T's corporate treasury to the Texas Senate Republicans "is strictly limited to being used to help defray administrative and overhead costs of the organization and may not be used for political purposes."“ Oh please! All that means is their donation frees up money acquired elsewhere that can now be redirected to political purposes instead of covering the admin & overhead costs. AT&T’s spin is clearly BS as is every other corporate donor to these misogynistic asshats.
Side question that I’ve been wondering regarding this bounty, how is it being funded and who pays it out? Did Texas create a budget, a department to administer & investigate the bounty claims and fund it with state taxpayer monies? Was the money redirected from another area’s budget? And a further question: have there been any claims since the law went into effect? Have any of those claims resulted in payouts? What due diligence are those tasked with paying out this bounty doing to ensure the claims are valid?
So, again, great reporting, but what do WE do? I have United Health Care as my Health Insurance provider, can't change it. As long as there are ignorant people who "believe" the Republican Laws are what they want, we have to endure the disgusting hypocrisy. It's always an assault on the poor and that won't change. The Rape victim who has the child will then be disparaged for having an out of wedlock baby and going on Social Services. Unless the general public gets a first hand taste of the disgusting policies, nothing-ever-changes! In fact it gets worse.
Keep the pressure on Judd. Keep hounding these corporations for comments and make them defend their position on this. I'm sure we'll get the stock answer that they didn't donate based on this bill or they donated to both sides. Spare us. This is what's happening and this is what the GOP openly says they are going to do with this money. If you don't support banning abortions in totality, stop donating to the GOP. That's it.
Thanks to information in some of your previous columns, my husband and I ditched AT&T and signed on with another provider. I hope more of your readers will take action after reading today's piece. Thank you, Judd!
All of this Texas (and Red state crap) is about VOTER SUPPRESSION, in this case, getting liberals and the poor (Blue voters) to move out of state. ... in my rarely humble opinion ...
This is what the other side (lying Republicans) do. This is good documentation reporting. However, where are we on winning some rather than documenting losses. The Republicans don’t care if they are caught in a lie. Go deeper and investigate how Republicans have perpetuated anti abortion tactics because it is a good wedge issue for them. Democrats cannot continue to battle as they have in the past.
I’ve started a campaign to send emails & letters & tweets & FB posts to those almost 180-plus Corporations Judd's already identified that pledged (and then broke their word) NOT to contribute to the Sedition Squad. Plus contact today's Texas trespassers, who've stomped on the womens' empowerment they profess.
We're going to protest, embarrass them in some simple ways, with not a lot of handwriting. I’ve got a comprehensive Corporation List with names, email and snail-mail addresses.
ThIs subject will only gather importance and steam, especially with Judd's continuing research. We can do something about this. Easily.
Boycotting corporations can only make a difference if thousands -- maybe tens of thousands -- of people are doing the same thing. So is anyone organizing a truly mass movement that could make a difference in corporate behavior?
You mentioned AT&T's corporate treasury--but where did the money come from with the other companies? Was it corporate, or was it donations from people who work there? For example, USAA--did that come from corporate USAA or from employees? (IMO, USAA is the best company to work with, bar none, so I hate seeing them on this list). I did take my business from AT&T after the news about OANN broke, so there's that....
Another example of how Citizens United unleashed floods of cash against the will of the people. This is pure speculation, but I wonder if the people who gravitate to these corporations don't first see them as piles of political cash rather than entities serving an economic purpose.
I first became aware of AT&Ts political clout in Texas after someone I knew who lost her husband to a teenager texting on the highway. She began a campaign against texting and driving, and it had plenty of popular support, but was DOA in the legislature in part because AT&T opposed it. They couldn't tolerate the lost revenue, I suppose.
Anyone who's interested in understanding what really happened to pregnant American women pre-Roe, please visit the Sundance Film Festival and get a ticket to The Janes, a new documentary about pre-Roe abortion workers in Chicago. Hint: women who need abortions in Texas rn MAY travel hundreds of miles for a legal abortion elsewhere, or carry their babies to term, as the PI article says; but some will likely look for, and find, illegal abortionists, and may end up dead. Or in the unpleasantly named "septic abortions unit" that operated at Chicago's main public hospital (Cook County Hospital) prior to legalization, and was closed (unneeded) shortly thereafter. --The Janes will be available from 8 AM MT Wednesday morning to 8 AM MT Thursday morning, is viewable on your phone, and costs $20. (INCLUDES the right to vote for the movie as best American documentary at SFF - which will increase its market value to streaming services, Just. Saying.) -- And now, how to make corporations/legislators aware that they are not just denying constitutional rights but signing death warrants?
Judd & Co: Could you offer links/email addresses for readers to respond directly to corporations? Or are you guys not comfortable doing that? I'm wondering, for example, who best to appeal to at AT&T. Thanks!
Please continue to advertise who is using their enormous profit and wealth to work for those who would prevent women from being able to make decisions about their lives and health. Has anyone considered that those who donate these sums to Republicans in Texas are doing so out of some underlying guilt over their lives of putting money and profit ahead of other values?
Jan. 18th, Popular Info asked "What topics would you like to see Popular Information take on in the months ahead?" I am wondering what political contributions ATT and CVS Health have made to Texas Democrat legislators who opposed abortion restrictions.
I'm wondering if Popular Info is presenting half of ATT's contributions that annoy PI's political preferences, and ignoring ATT's neutrality on abortion rights.
“The spokesperson also noted that, under Texas law, the $50,000 donation from AT&T's corporate treasury to the Texas Senate Republicans "is strictly limited to being used to help defray administrative and overhead costs of the organization and may not be used for political purposes."“ Oh please! All that means is their donation frees up money acquired elsewhere that can now be redirected to political purposes instead of covering the admin & overhead costs. AT&T’s spin is clearly BS as is every other corporate donor to these misogynistic asshats.
Side question that I’ve been wondering regarding this bounty, how is it being funded and who pays it out? Did Texas create a budget, a department to administer & investigate the bounty claims and fund it with state taxpayer monies? Was the money redirected from another area’s budget? And a further question: have there been any claims since the law went into effect? Have any of those claims resulted in payouts? What due diligence are those tasked with paying out this bounty doing to ensure the claims are valid?
So, again, great reporting, but what do WE do? I have United Health Care as my Health Insurance provider, can't change it. As long as there are ignorant people who "believe" the Republican Laws are what they want, we have to endure the disgusting hypocrisy. It's always an assault on the poor and that won't change. The Rape victim who has the child will then be disparaged for having an out of wedlock baby and going on Social Services. Unless the general public gets a first hand taste of the disgusting policies, nothing-ever-changes! In fact it gets worse.
Keep the pressure on Judd. Keep hounding these corporations for comments and make them defend their position on this. I'm sure we'll get the stock answer that they didn't donate based on this bill or they donated to both sides. Spare us. This is what's happening and this is what the GOP openly says they are going to do with this money. If you don't support banning abortions in totality, stop donating to the GOP. That's it.
Thanks to information in some of your previous columns, my husband and I ditched AT&T and signed on with another provider. I hope more of your readers will take action after reading today's piece. Thank you, Judd!
All of this Texas (and Red state crap) is about VOTER SUPPRESSION, in this case, getting liberals and the poor (Blue voters) to move out of state. ... in my rarely humble opinion ...
Judd ,
This is what the other side (lying Republicans) do. This is good documentation reporting. However, where are we on winning some rather than documenting losses. The Republicans don’t care if they are caught in a lie. Go deeper and investigate how Republicans have perpetuated anti abortion tactics because it is a good wedge issue for them. Democrats cannot continue to battle as they have in the past.
I’ve started a campaign to send emails & letters & tweets & FB posts to those almost 180-plus Corporations Judd's already identified that pledged (and then broke their word) NOT to contribute to the Sedition Squad. Plus contact today's Texas trespassers, who've stomped on the womens' empowerment they profess.
We're going to protest, embarrass them in some simple ways, with not a lot of handwriting. I’ve got a comprehensive Corporation List with names, email and snail-mail addresses.
ThIs subject will only gather importance and steam, especially with Judd's continuing research. We can do something about this. Easily.
Join me: laswnyc@gmail.com
Boycotting corporations can only make a difference if thousands -- maybe tens of thousands -- of people are doing the same thing. So is anyone organizing a truly mass movement that could make a difference in corporate behavior?
You mentioned AT&T's corporate treasury--but where did the money come from with the other companies? Was it corporate, or was it donations from people who work there? For example, USAA--did that come from corporate USAA or from employees? (IMO, USAA is the best company to work with, bar none, so I hate seeing them on this list). I did take my business from AT&T after the news about OANN broke, so there's that....
Another example of how Citizens United unleashed floods of cash against the will of the people. This is pure speculation, but I wonder if the people who gravitate to these corporations don't first see them as piles of political cash rather than entities serving an economic purpose.
I first became aware of AT&Ts political clout in Texas after someone I knew who lost her husband to a teenager texting on the highway. She began a campaign against texting and driving, and it had plenty of popular support, but was DOA in the legislature in part because AT&T opposed it. They couldn't tolerate the lost revenue, I suppose.
Anyone who's interested in understanding what really happened to pregnant American women pre-Roe, please visit the Sundance Film Festival and get a ticket to The Janes, a new documentary about pre-Roe abortion workers in Chicago. Hint: women who need abortions in Texas rn MAY travel hundreds of miles for a legal abortion elsewhere, or carry their babies to term, as the PI article says; but some will likely look for, and find, illegal abortionists, and may end up dead. Or in the unpleasantly named "septic abortions unit" that operated at Chicago's main public hospital (Cook County Hospital) prior to legalization, and was closed (unneeded) shortly thereafter. --The Janes will be available from 8 AM MT Wednesday morning to 8 AM MT Thursday morning, is viewable on your phone, and costs $20. (INCLUDES the right to vote for the movie as best American documentary at SFF - which will increase its market value to streaming services, Just. Saying.) -- And now, how to make corporations/legislators aware that they are not just denying constitutional rights but signing death warrants?
Judd & Co: Could you offer links/email addresses for readers to respond directly to corporations? Or are you guys not comfortable doing that? I'm wondering, for example, who best to appeal to at AT&T. Thanks!
Please continue to advertise who is using their enormous profit and wealth to work for those who would prevent women from being able to make decisions about their lives and health. Has anyone considered that those who donate these sums to Republicans in Texas are doing so out of some underlying guilt over their lives of putting money and profit ahead of other values?
What I’d like to know is how much money by these same companies donated to Democrats and the DNC
Jan. 18th, Popular Info asked "What topics would you like to see Popular Information take on in the months ahead?" I am wondering what political contributions ATT and CVS Health have made to Texas Democrat legislators who opposed abortion restrictions.
I'm wondering if Popular Info is presenting half of ATT's contributions that annoy PI's political preferences, and ignoring ATT's neutrality on abortion rights.