Dems: ‘Everything on the line’ in light of news
Bay State Dems pilloried the Supreme Court draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, painting a picture of a dire, dystopian future if the sweeping decision ends up being made.
U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the assistant House speaker, outside the Massachusetts State House called the draft an “attack on our constitutional rights on the fundamentals of our democracy.”
She said it would have a “ripple effect is going to affect all of our civil rights and the gains that we have made. So this November, in these races, everything is on the line. Our democracy is on the line.”
Politico reported late Monday night that there was a draft decision circulating in the yet-unruled-upon SCOTUS case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case involving state abortion restrictions in Mississippi. The draft, written by Justice Samuel Alito, would overturn the 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, a well-known ruling that effectively legalized abortion.
If that were to happen, it would be up to states to set abortion law. Little would change practically for Massachusetts. Over the past few years, Beacon Hill has passed laws aimed at making sure there’s broad access to abortion in the Bay State.
Spurred by news of the draft, local pols congregated on the steps of the State House on Tuesday, including Mayor Michelle Wu, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, Speaker Ron Mariano and state Senate President Karen Spilka.
“I believe this is one of the saddest days in the United States history,” Spilka proclaimed.
Wu said she “suited up for battle” that morning. She said the “right-wing” court draft decision is being pushed by “a fringe minority determined to drive us back.”
Mariano said, “We don’t want to raise the first generation that has less freedoms than their mothers,” and so, “We need to fight back.”
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker tweeted out, “If SCOTUS overturns Roe, it would be a massive setback for women in states without responsible laws protecting abortion access and reproductive health services.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen, who’s looking to be lieutenant governor as his running mate, said, “We both believe in and reaffirm the need to protect human life wherever and whenever possible.” They called the Massachusetts Roe Act, which passed over Baker’s veto, “a radical move too far by state legislators here in our state.”
Republican candidate businessman Chris Doughty said in a statement, that he would not “seek any changes to our state’s abortion laws.”
“The right to abortion is enshrined in the Massachusetts constitution,” he said. “I am running to focus on making our state more affordable for our citizens and our job creators.”