North Dakota’s only abortion clinic said patients should keep his appointmentsdespite the rhetoric of the United States Supreme Court, although contingency plans are in play.
North Dakota is one of 13 states that would automatically bar the proceedings if the court overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade. The scenario came closer to reality this week following the leak of a draft court opinion.
Tammi Kromenaker, director of the Red River Women’s Clinic, said that as it was not an official decision, they would continue to see patients. However, if the intended outcome were to happen, she emphasized that they don’t want the service to suffer.
“We are exploring the possibility of finding space across the river,” Kromenaker acknowledged. “So that access for the patients we’ve served for 24 years here at Red River Women’s Clinic, that access remains essentially the same for them.”
Crossing the river to Minnesota is an option as it is a safe haven state, although she stressed the talks were preliminary. The pending Supreme Court decision relates to a Mississippi case. He reached court after more conservative judges were seated. Anti-abortion activists have long argued that abortion is a violation of their religious beliefs.
Some legal experts predict that the end of federal protections will lead to more state-level restrictionsincluding trying to ban people from going elsewhere for abortions.
Kromenaker noted that they are consulting with their lawyers on the issues, noting that policy makers have put a lot of energy into limiting care.
“Whether it’s this Supreme Court decision or the 2023 North Dakota legislature, I think there are people who are extremely motivated to make North Dakota abort-free,” Kromenaker remarked. “And they have the political will to do so.”
In the meantime, she recommended those who support reproductive rights take action by being more candid with their friends, families and lawmakers. She added that serving as an escort to clinics would be helpful, noting the increased presence of protesters in recent days.
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Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania advocates and state officials gathered in Philadelphia on Wednesday to make a strong case for abortion access, after a leaked draft indicated the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn its ruling of 1973 in Roe v. Wade.
Pennsylvania has no laws protecting abortion access on the books, and Gov. Tom Wolf has said he would veto any bill restricting it.
Dayle Steinberg, president of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, said it’s important to remind people that abortions are still safe and legal right now.
“We fight for everyone to have the power to control their own body,” Steinberg said. “We deserve elected officials at all levels of government to believe this too. No judge or politician should ever block your personal medical decisions or set the course of your life.”
The Supreme Court’s decision will not be finalized until it is officially released, most likely within the next two months. A report revealed that while Roe v. Wade is overturned by the High Court, the number of people who could driving in pennsylvania because an abortion would skyrocket by 1,000%.
Some state lawmakers have introduced anti-abortion legislation, including Senate Bill 956who proposes a constitutional amendment to deny the right to abortion care.
Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, D-Montgomery/Delaware, co-chair of the Women’s Health Caucus, said the proposed decision is dangerous.
“States that have restrictive abortion laws have the highest rates of maternal mortality and morbidity,” Cappelletti pointed out. “Here in Pennsylvania, we have high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. If ever the legislature passed more laws that would restrict access, those numbers would go up.”
Among Pennsylvania counties, 86% do not have an abortion provider. Wolf joined 16 other governors calling for immediate passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would protect access to abortion nationwide. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
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The Mainers gathered at the federal courthouse in Portland on Tuesday, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the right to have an abortion.
Politico obtained and published a draft majority opinion stating that five of the nine High Court justices would vote to overturn the decision in Roe v. Wade. Legal abortion has been protected in Maine since the Reproductive Privacy Act of 1993.
Nicole Clegg, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Northern New England Family Planningsaid laws restricting abortions in states like Texas have shown that limiting access to abortion does not reduce demand – but added that barriers for those who might need to travel or find other workarounds to get the care they need.
“If Roe v. Wade is overturned, as we expect,” she said, “it will have a dramatic impact on people across the country and for vendors like us here in Maine who will be a place where people can access care safely and legally.”
Nearly three-quarters of Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, according to a Marquette Law School Survey. Nearly 30% support overturning the decision.
Clegg said the Supreme Court has a long and storied history of granting rights to people when individual states have not always been willing to do so.
“When you think about advances in race and equality, marriage equality, the Supreme Court is the body that had to say that no matter where you live, those rights should apply to everyone,” said she declared. “And so honestly, it’s really shocking that we’re right now right now where this same body is ready to take away people’s basic rights.”
US Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, released A declaration claiming that the draft notice is inconsistent with what Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch stated during their confirmation hearings. While Collins voted to confirm those two justices, she was the only Republican to vote against confirming Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2020, citing her concerns about how close the vote would be to Election Day.
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Michigan lawmakers and choice advocates were among those who rallied in courthouses on Tuesday, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to protect a person’s right to an abortion.
Politico obtained and published a draft majority opinion stating that five of the nine High Court justices would vote to overturn the decision in Roe v. Wade. Michigan is among dozens of states with an abortion ban on the books that would become law if it happens.
State Representative Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, noted that Michigan prohibition in 1931 would criminalize both those seeking abortions and their providers, but said that would only happen if the draft notice is made official.
“One thing we want to clarify, just because there are patients seeking care,” she said, “at the moment abortion is legal in Michigan, and if you need abortion care, do not hesitate to ask for it.”
Pohutsky introduced the Reproductive Health Act, which would protect access to abortion and contraception in the state and repeal the 1931 ban, but the legislature did not advance the bill. Last month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court to prevent a ban from taking effect.
In the meantime, groups are working to collect signatures for a ballot petition it would add the right to abortion to the state constitution.
Merissa Kovach, a Michigan ACLU political strategist, called it “a moment when everyone is on deck”.
“We know people are scared. They feel helpless,” she said. “And I want to highlight that the Reproductive Freedom for All ballot initiative is the best way to permanently protect reproductive freedom in Michigan.”
More than two-thirds of Michigan voters said in surveys that they want the Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade up. Less than 20% support overturning the landmark decision.
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