Healthcare Benefits.

Citigroup, the nation's fourth-largest bank, is angering Texas Republicans over its latest workplace benefit: Offering to cover the travel expenses of employees who live in states with restrictive reproductive health care laws, including the state's recently enacted law banning most abortions after six weeks.

Citi disclosed the new policy in a regulatory filing filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15. The bank stated: "In response to changes in reproductive health care laws in certain states in the U.S., beginning in 2022 we provide travel benefits to facilitate access to adequate resources."

In an emailed statement to CBS MoneyWatch, Republican Party of Texas chairman Matt Rinaldi called the policy "appalling" and said the group is urging Republicans to snub Citi's services.

"Republicans should avoid entrusting their finances with Citibank and other companies that are hostile to them and their values," Rinaldi said. He added, "Citigroup's decision to finance the murder of unborn children with a heartbeat is appalling, but not surprising, considering [its] past adoption of far-left causes."

The Texas law, which took effect in September, effectively outlaws abortions in Texas.

The company's new policy was adopted under the leadership of CEO Jane Fraser, the first woman to lead the bank or any major Wall Street firm. But other corporations have also said they'd help employees in states with restrictive abortion laws.

Salesforce CEO Mark Beinoff in September said the company will aid employees who want to move out of Texas if they choose due to the abortion law. And the chief executive of Dallas-based Match Group, Shar Dubey, set up a fund to help any of the company's Texas workers who may need to travel out of state for the procedure.

Courtesy CBS

I will repeat myself:

If an employer wants to deny benefits to a woman (in the case of abortion) or a gay; that is Freedom of Religion.

If an employer wants to require women to be accompanied on doctors visits by a male family member; that would the End of the World.