The decision by the court’s conservative majority overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling and is expected to lead to abortion bans in about half the states of the union.
The Associated Press reported abortion clinics in two states ceased abortion services after the decision was released – Wisconscion and West Virginia.
The ruling comes more than a month after a leaked draft version of the decision penned by Justice Samuel Alito showed the court had already decided the case’s fate. Subsequent to the “stunning” leak, students at Bristol Township’s Truman High School staged a walk out.
Credit: Truman Protest
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State Representative Tina Davis (D-Bucks) said in her weekly e-mail the Supreme Court’s decision will impact women in many ways.
“Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision hurts women’s access to health care and disproportionately harms people of color and those struggling financially. Accessing abortion care remains legal in Pennsylvania, and I will continue to fight for people to be able to make decisions about their own body. Overturning Roe v. Wade will also have disastrous effects for not only women’s health care but for our democracy. When the ability to make decisions for yourself is outlawed, all personal liberties are at risk.”
As of 4:45 pm Republican state representative Kathleen “K.C.” Tomlinson (Bensalem) has not commented publicly on the courts overturning Roe v Wade. This publication contacted her communications department a short time ago seeking comment. Nor did she make any comments publicly when the draft decision was leaked.
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“I flew Apaches over Baghdad, ready to die for our country. In the wake of the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, I will not standby while Americans’ right to have an abortion is ripped away. So for the love of God, vote this November,” she said.
“As state legislatures across America begin to consider legislation on this extremely sensitive topic in response to today’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, I urge all state legislatures to always start from a place of empathy and compassion. Any legislative consideration must start with the process of seeing the world through other people’s eyes, and walking the world in other people’s shoes. Any legislative consideration must always seek to achieve bipartisan consensus that both respects a woman’s privacy and autonomy, and also respects the sanctity of human life. These principles are not mutually exclusive; both can and must be achieved.”
Fitzpatrick’s statement skips commenting on the specifics of Roe being overturned and goes towards seeking building a core consensus created by both sides of the political isle.
““At the core of our democracy must always be the goal of building bridges, not driving wedges. This issue, as sensitive as it is, must be approached in this same manner. With empathy, with understanding, and with compassion. I urge all state legislatures, including in my own state of Pennsylvania, to follow this lead. Support two-party solutions. Reject single-party solutions. Build bridges, don’t drive wedges,” Fitzpatrick said. ‘
Outgoing Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said “abortion access in Pennsylvania will remain legal and safe as long as I am governor.”
Republican candidate for Governor Doug Mastriano said Roe v Wade has now been relegated to the ash heap of history…Pennsylvania must be prepared to be the voice of the voiceless.
His opponent in November current Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro vowed to protect a woman’s right to choose.
“This is a devastating day in America. A woman’s right to choose now depends on the state in which she lives, and the decision will be made by our next Governor. Doug Mastriano will ban abortion with no exceptions. I will keep abortion legal,” he said.
Reaction by locals have been measured so far, however, one Bristol woman reached out late this afternoon to express her frustration with today’s announcement with an interesting point.
“Mark today. Cause years from now, Democrats will today’s the day the decided enough is enough when it comes to guns and the Second Amendment. ”
“Just watch,” she said.
Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented with the decision saying “With sorrow—for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection—we dissent.”
In the final opinion issued Friday, Alito wrote Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision that reaffirmed the right to abortion, were wrong the days they were decided and must be overturned.
“We therefore hold that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Roe and Casey must be overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion must be returned to the people and their elected representatives,” said the Justice about today’s opinion.
Credit: U.S. Supreme Court
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