Conservative state finance chiefs criticize Lander for abortion pill push

In July, Brad Lander, the city Comptroller of New York, urged major retailers and pharmacy chains, including Walmart and Costco, to sell the abortion pill mifepristone. He emphasized the importance of making the drug available in states where abortion is legal, arguing that it would benefit both consumers and investors. Lander's push was motivated by the significant investment New York City's pension funds have in these companies, totaling over $1.3 billion. However, his actions drew sharp criticism from the financial officers of 14 conservative states, including Texas, who accused him of politicizing business decisions. They argued that such decisions should be left to the companies based on customer demand and financial considerations. The officials pointed out that Costco had indicated a lack of customer demand for mifepristone, suggesting that Lander's intervention was inappropriate. The letter from these state officials urged Costco's CEO to disregard Lander's requests, framing them as attempts to impose political views on the marketplace. They expressed concern that Lander's actions could harm the companies and their shareholders, emphasizing the need for businesses to operate independently of political pressures. This conflict highlights the growing divide between conservative and liberal states regarding abortion access, especially following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision that allowed states to set their own abortion laws. As blue states like New York expand abortion services, conservative states maintain strict restrictions, leading to tensions over the availability of reproductive health care products.