Cory Gardner is a threat to safe and legal abortion
This summer, women across the nation held a collective breath in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on June Medical Services vs. Russo, a case out of Louisiana that had the potential to significantly undermine constitutional protections for abortion guaranteed by Roe vs. Wade. While the narrow 5-4 ruling in this case thankfully upheld current precedent, the coordinated nationwide assault on abortion from the far-right is far from over. It’s no secret that state and local politicians across the country, emboldened by the Trump administration’s overt anti-abortion stance and encouraged by the presence of conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the court, have been working even more diligently to introduce measures to ban abortion in their home states. The ultimate goal: bring a bill that could be funneled up the pipeline to challenge and overturn Roe vs. Wade. As of last month, there were at least 16 other abortion-related cases before U.S. appeals courts, many of which could present a more direct threat to Roe vs. Wade than the issues raised in June Medical Services. With a conservative-leaning court, thanks to the efforts of Republican lawmakers the fate of legal and accessible abortion across the nation is more uncertain than ever. As we head into this upcoming election one thing is clear: overt anti-abortion extremists will continue to go after the rights of women to make decisions about their own health care, families, and futures, while Republican senators roll out the red carpet for these zealots and make sure no one stands in their way. This month, Gardner received an endorsement for his re-election by the National Right to Life, a far-right anti-abortion interest group. They cited his support for Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Gardner’s votes in favor of several pieces of anti-abortion legislation, including one that would have placed a 20-week ban on abortion at the federal level. Gardner’s record and apparent support for the broader anti-abortion agenda are especially aggravating given that his constituents at home in Colorado will have to vote on yet another abortion ban this November — this one targeting abortions later in pregnancy — despite rejecting bans at the ballot box three separate times since 2008. This ban, Proposition 115, would create a medically unnecessary restriction on abortion after 22 weeks, leaving no exceptions for health complications, a serious fetal diagnosis, rape, or incest. This is impossibly cruel. In the face of annual attempts at the legislature and frequent measures to ban abortion on the ballot, advocates and voters in Colorado have held the line to make sure everyone in our state has the freedom and dignity to make these important medical decisions without political interference. Any restriction on access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion care, is out of line with our shared state values. Right now, Colorado is one of only seven states that doesn’t place unnecessary limits on when someone can access an abortion. Because of this, many pregnant women across the country who are in need of compassionate abortion care travel to Colorado, because it is their only option, especially now, as we weather the COVID-19 health care crisis. If this ban were to pass, it would have rippling effects across the nation. As the future of abortion rights precedent faces serious risk at the national level, it’s more important than ever for Coloradans to stand firm on this issue — that starts with our leaders. Sen. Gardner has proven time and time again that he is not this leader, and will not fight for the freedom and dignity of his constituents in Colorado. Gardner, who appears to be solely driven by his commitment to President Trump’s far-right agenda, has chosen to undermine reproductive health care at every possible juncture. Throughout his political career, Gardner has voted to defund Planned Parenthood nine times, co-sponsored a federal personhood bill, and confirmed anti-abortion judges to lifetime appointments, including Brett Kavanaugh, despite his promise to voters in 2014 that he wouldn’t pursue an anti-abortion agenda. He lied. The majority of Coloradans support abortion access, and as past state elections have indicated, do not want restrictions on this constitutional right. The stakes are too high to allow outof-touch leaders to block our ability to make progress on reproductive health care access for all Coloradans. Nothing should stand between women and these important health decisions. We deserve a leader who reflects our Colorado values on abortion access and reproductive rights. This November, it’s time to hold Sen. Cory Gardner accountable for his record.