Delaware County leaders react to Roe v. Wade reversal; concern voiced for potential ban here
As the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade putting the issue of abortion rights in the hands of the states, among the reactions to the ruling was a concern that efforts may be made in Pennsylvania to erode what rights there are here.
“Continued access to abortion in Pennsylvania will be decided by the November elections,” state Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-161, of Nether Providence, said, adding that Democrat nominee and state Attorney General Josh Shapiro fully supports a woman’s right to choose and GOP nominee and state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-33, of Chambersburg, Pa., wants to roll back abortion to conception.
Krueger, who has served in the state House since 2015, said Republicans have passed abortion bans every single legislative session.
“Gov. Wolf has vetoed every single one of them,” she said. “The Republicans have introduced over 70 constitutional amendments this session. Voting rights to ballot boxes to criminal justice issues to abortion could be impacted by these constitutional amendments.”
Krueger pointed to SB 956, a bill that would allow for a constitutional amendment that would block any expansion of abortions in Pennsylvania came out of committee in January.
“There is concern that they are also working on another constitutional amendment that would ban abortion altogether,” the representative said. “Constitutional amendments cannot be vetoed by the governor.”
A constitutional amendment must be passed by two
consecutive legislative assemblies and then it is put on a ballot for voters to decide.
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5, of Swarthmore was swift in her response to the SCOTUS ruling.
“The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health is unprecedented and will have a devastating impact across our country,” she said. “It is rare in the United States for millions of Americans to wake up with fewer rights than they had the day before, but that is precisely what the Court has done here. “
She said advocates saw this coming for some time.
“For years, reproductive health care advocates were mocked for sounding the alarm about abortion rights,” Scanlon said. “We were told Roe and Casey were settled law — today’s decision makes clear we were justified in our concern. Women are now facing the greatest threat to our reproductive freedom we’ve
seen in half a century.”
The congresswoman spoke of the far-reaching impact the Supreme Court’s decision can have.
“It’s not just women of child-bearing age who will be impacted by this misguided, dangerous decision,” Scanlon said. “It will hurt women of all ages, transgender and non-binary individuals, family units of all shapes and sizes, and ultimately, entire communities. This decision will impact health care rights far beyond the decision of whether to terminate a pregnancy, including contraception, in vitro fertilization, and non-reproductive health care. By far, the greatest burden of this decision will fall upon those who aren’t white, wealthy, and well-connected. The policies advocated by right-wing extremists are already spreading across the country and have been particularly harmful to Black and brown women, our LGBTQ neighbors, and low-income
families.”
The issue, Scanlon said, is about power and control.
“While radical politicians claim that restricting abortion access is about the sanctity of life, the reality is it’s about power and control,” the representative said. “Aided by conservatives on the Supreme Court, the far right is well on its way to taking away our ability to control our bodies, our work, our reproductive health, and our finances — for ourselves and our families. They’re mandating their religious and social views for every American, taking away our power to make decisions about our bodies, our families, and our futures based on our own personal values, medical needs, and financial realities.:
She questioned how far the reach of government may go in light of this decision.
“The fall of Roe makes government-mandated pregnancy a reality, and the policy implications of states banning abortions or severely restricting access in the wake of this decision do not stop there,” Scanlon said. “If the state can force someone to carry a pregnancy to term and give birth, where does government control over each of us and our bodies end? States across the country have already proven themselves willing to enact draconian laws that further strip women of the basic right to decide if, when, and how to start a family by banning IUDs, the morningafter pill, and other forms of birth control. The reasoning presented in the majority’s opinion in Dobbs also raises serious concerns about which fundamental rights based on personal privacy will be the next targets of the radical right, including contraception, same-sex marriage, and interracial marriage.”
She spoke to how, for now, abortion is legal in Pennsylvania, while expressing concern for those who have barriers to access.
“With existing trigger bans in 13 states and more than a dozen others ready to move quickly to ban abortion, an estimated 36 million women of reproductive age would be impacted immediately,” Scanlon said. “But it doesn’t stop there. Right now, abortion remains legal in Pennsylvania up to the 24th week of pregnancy. And while it is some consolation that our commonwealth has a governor who will continue to veto abortion restrictions while he remains in office, Pennsylvanians will be impacted and will have challenges accessing care as people across the country seek increasingly limited resources.”
Scanlon said the fight will continue.
“Overturning Roe goes against the will of the American people, and we will fight back — in our legislatures and at the ballot box,” the congresswoman said. “We need federal legislation to protect the freedom to choose and ensure everyone who needs an abortion or other reproductive health care can receive it. We are facing a generational threat to reproductive freedom as politicians move state by state to restrict abortion access with the ultimate goal of instituting a nationwide ban — something that Republican leaders in Congress have already said is up for consideration if they regain control. We cannot let that happen. Congress must act immediately to protect abortion rights for all Americans.”
Despite her concern, the representative said she said she will continue to fight for women’s rights.
“Like many of my constituents — and the majority of Americans who support our freedom to make our own decisions about our health and our bodies — I am worried,” Scanlon said. “But I’m not giving up because the stakes are too high.”
Scanlon’s district covers all of Delaware County and portions of South and Southwest Philadelphia and a sliver of Montgomery County.
Pennsylvania’s senators also had their say.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization restores the American people’s ability to determine abortion laws through their elected representatives, as the Constitution requires,” U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-PA, said. “Precedents that are wrongly decided should be overturned,
just as Brown v. Board of Education was right to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson. This ruling is a win for the unborn, the Constitution, and democratic governance.”
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA, said, “Today’s decision upends almost a half century of legal precedent and rips away a constitutional right that generations of women have known their entire lives. This dangerous ruling won’t end abortions in this country, but it will put women’s lives at risk. And make no mistake—this is not the end goal, it’s just the beginning. Republicans in Congress want to pass federal legislation to completely ban abortion. Our daughters and granddaughters should not grow up with fewer rights than their mothers.”
State leaders also commented on the ruling and the impact here in Pennsylvania.
“Today’s decision will have an adverse impact on women’s access to health care and will result in higher maternal mortality rates — especially among women of color,” Pennsylvania House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, D-191, whose district covers a part of Delaware County, said. “Women have the right to bodily autonomy, and I will continue fighting to keep it that way in Pennsylvania.”
State Sen. Tim Kearney, D-26, of Swarthmore, said the Supreme Court made the wrong decision.
“Pennsylvania, we MUST get it right,” he tweeted. “Our democracy is at risk. While this decision seems to directly impact women, EVERY person should be outraged. The time is upon all of us to lend our voices to the cause by using our respective platforms and voting power to push back against this horrible decision.”
State Sen. John Kane, D-9, whose district includes parts of Delaware County, agreed.
“This Supreme Court is pushing an obvious political agenda and doesn’t care that their arguments are superficial and hypocritical,” he tweeted. “Today’s decision is a devastating rollback of our rights. People will die because of this ruling and that is not an exaggeration.”
State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-165, of Springfield, shared her comments.
“Today, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending precedent set for the last 50 years,” she said. “This decision doesn’t just end legal abortion as the law of the land in America, but puts the lives of women in jeopardy.
“It also threatens fertility treatment and reproductive healthcare, including miscarriage treatment and ectopic pregnancies,” O’Mara said. “As each state decides the fate of medical freedom for half of the country, I will do everything in my power to protect women and ensure access to essential healthcare.”
Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler, R-100, of Lancaster and House Majority Leader
Kerry Benninghoff, R-171, of Centre & Mifflin, counties, issued the following statement on the decision.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling reestablishes the authority of states to regulate abortion,” they said. “The ruling once again makes clear it is the authority of individual states to establish laws that are in the best interest of their residents.”
They spoke of how abortion is still legal in the Commonwealth.
“It is important to point out Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act remains in effect, and places firm restrictions on abortions in our Commonwealth including a ban on all lateterm abortion procedures,” they said. “This ruling presents a necessary opportunity to examine our existing abortion law, and discussions around possible changes are already underway.”
Relatedly, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer added his name to a brief produced by Fair & Justice Prosecution to halt Texas’ six-week abortion ban.
“Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land for nearly 50 years,” Stollsteimer said previously. “As a prosecutor and as the chief law enforcement official in Delaware County, I want to state clearly and unequivocally that I will not use the power of my office to criminalize a woman’s personal healthcare decisions.”
He spoke of the amicus brief he signed with 118 current and former elected prosecutors and law enforcement officials.
“In that statement we made clear, no matter our own personal or moral views on the issue of abortion, that our commitment to not prosecute women who obtain abortions and health care professionals who provide treatment is not predicated on the opinion of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade,” Stollsteimer said. “Rather, it is based upon our obligation as prosecutors to use our discretion and the power of our office in furtherance of policies that protect the well-being and safety of all members of our community. Using our discretion in furtherance of laws that create untenable choices for women and healthcare providers and erode trust in the justice system is inconsistent with our oath and our duty.”
The Delaware County District Attorney underscored his commitment to women’s health care.
“I remain committed to working in support of laws that protect access to reproductive healthcare,” Stollsteimer said. “Equitable access to health services — not just in Pennsylvania but across our nation — helps ensure the rights and wellbeing of every woman, and protects our families and our communities. Supporting public health is critical to ensuring public safety, and it is, and will remain, a priority of my office.”
The Archbishop of Philadelphia, the Rev. Nelson J. Perez, also issued a statement after the ruling.
“As Catholics, we believe that life is God’s most precious
gift and that we share a responsibility to uphold its beauty and sanctity from conception to natural death,” it read. “In addition to being strong advocates for the unborn, this responsibility extends to caring for the hungry, the poor, the sick, the immigrant, the elderly, the oppressed, and any of our brothers and sisters who are marginalized. In short, to be truly pro-life means to recognize the presence of God in everyone and to care for them accordingly.
“The Church’s strong commitment to protecting and preserving human life is a holistic one,” it continued. “The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is one of the largest private providers of social services in the region. Our ministries and programs provide a continuum of care to those in need regardless of their faith tradition.
“Our charitable programs
provide formula, diapers, education, and comprehensive support services to pregnant women, fathers, new parents, and single parents,” Perez’s statement read. “We have distributed more than a million meals in the greater Philadelphia region to those struggling with food insecurity. We shelter the homeless, support veterans, those in recovery, and help students with special needs receive the Catholic education they deserve. We have helped desperate families get back on their feet and bring joy to the lives of the aged and lonely.
“I have often said that we are a people of hope,” Perez ended his statement. “It is my personal hope that we can all live and work peacefully, side-by-side, to create a true culture of life in our Nation.”