The Supreme Court ruled on two cases regarding Texas’ pro-life law last week, drawing reactions from several prominent Democratic figures on the topic of abortion.
The high court decided to allow abortion providers to continue with a lawsuit against the state, but it is allowing the legislation to stay in effect as the legal battles continue. The justices ruled that lawsuits can be brought against only certain people.
Over the weekend, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) pushed for codifying Roe v. Wade into law once again, appearing on CNN’s “State of The Union,” appearing to discuss what might happen depending on the Supreme Court’s potentially pro-life future decisions.
She said, “We will have no choice but to take this on state by state. I don’t think that’s the right way to handle this, a patchwork of state laws. I think the best way to handle this, to avoid back alley abortions and busing women around the country, is that codify Roe v Wade, to put that into federal law.”
On Friday, Klobuchar also tweeted, “This is not over. I will not give up on the fight for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.”
This is not over. I will not give up on the fight for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) December 10, 2021
The founder and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health, Amy Hagstrom Miller, also discussed the law in an interview, saying, “You know, I think on paper it’s considered a win, because the court is allowing us to continue with the challenge. But really on the ground, it’s a big loss.” She went on to claim that the abortion clinic is “having to deny upwards of 80 percent of the people who come to us.”
One of the biggest headline-making reactions to the bill was Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom stating that he’s going to use the precedent of the Supreme Court’s decision to “create the ability for private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, or sells an assault weapon or ghost gun kit or parts in CA.” He said he was “outraged” by the Supreme Court allowing the Texas law to stay in effect.
If states can shield their laws from review by federal courts, then CA will use that authority to help protect lives.
We will work to create the ability for private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, or sells an assault weapon or ghost gun kit or parts in CA. pic.twitter.com/YPBJ00vN6z
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) December 12, 2021
In a statement, President Joe Biden said he was “very concerned by the Supreme Court’s decision to allow SB8 to remain in effect in light of the significant consequences that law has for women in Texas and around the country, and for the rule of law.” He also said he “will continue to work with Congress to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act.”
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki discussed the ruling, as well, and mentioned the act of codifying the 1973 Supreme Court decision. Psaki said that the president is “deeply committed” to promoting abortion access and has “advocated in the past for codifying Roe through passing the Women’s Health Protection Act.”
Texas’ Heartbeat Act effectively outlaws abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, when fetal cardiac activity can be detected. As The Daily Wire previously reported, “The Texas law allows citizens to sue abortion providers and those who ‘aid and abet’ illegal procedures for a financial reward if the lawsuit is successful.”
Pro-life groups, like the Southern Baptist Convention, have celebrated the new law. “We should appreciate every step that can be taken — whether accomplished through legislative channels, court decisions, or cultural developments — to save one additional preborn life,” the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission wrote in September after the Supreme Court first declined to block it.