Pritzker Asks Biden to Increase Abortion Funding and Create Clinics on Federal Land

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker participated in a meeting with President Biden and other pro-abortion governors on July 1. The figures met to discuss actions that the federal government can take to counteract the US Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

While only a portion of the governors' meeting was made available to the public, Capitol Fax received and published talking points from Governor Pritzker's office.

According to those talking points, Pritzker asked the federal government to create abortion clinics on federal land, make sure abortion pills are made available for distribution through the US postal service, create a communication network for abortion businesses to help them manage an influx of patients, and increase federal funding for abortions.

The full statement from Pritzker's office is below.

I propose that you immediately form a reproductive healthcare strike force – pulling together the best experts, federal leaders, and the states on the frontline of this fight to find every single federal rule and regulation that can enhance our ability to provide reproductive health care. Eliminate the rules that are creating barriers and create new rules that expand access. Make sure the FTC takes a hard look at whether our existing privacy regulations are sufficient to protect individuals looking for abortion care.

That’s action we can take without Congress, without the Courts – right now – and save lives.

I believe there are four essential issues that need immediate focus.

ONE. Right off the bat, we can find a way for the federal government to support doctors in EVERY state providing telehealth and mail prescriptions to patients, as well as making facilities on federal land in EVERY state available for clinicians to practice.

TWO. Those mail prescriptions are going out through the United States Postal Service, not the postal service of Alabama or Missouri. So we need to get out in front of any attempts to criminalize use of the federal postal system to deliver medication, because they will try.

THREE. We also need a centralized hub connecting patients and providers across state lines. I’m getting calls from providers up and down Illinois who are getting double and triple booked by scared patients who are grabbing every appointment they can because they’re afraid of losing all of them. There needs to be an ultra-secure navigator system for providers to communicate with each other and with patients about their options. We don’t want any appointments going to waste.

FOUR. Most importantly of all: we need federal dollars. Illinois is going to have half the country relying on us to provide abortions and reproductive health care. We fund abortions with our Medicaid dollars. But our state funds alone can’t support the demand. We need the federal government to pay for clinic upkeep, medical transport, and other associated billable items up until the abortion itself. And the federal government can provide the state with additional funding elsewhere to support our Medicaid needs.

This is a crisis and we need to treat it like one. That means acting urgently as a collective in the way this moment demands. We need to put more decision makers in a room and figure out creative ways to get to yes. I’m asking that as soon as this call ends, we work with our teams to get a concrete meeting for the coalition on the calendar. Illinois is happy to convene federal and state leaders, but I’ll go wherever it takes to get this done.

Happy Independence Day!

 

Michigan Citizens to Vote on Abortion Rights Amendment

photo credit: Mike Bowler Sr. / Flickr

After the US Supreme Court issued its decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a petition to enshrine a right to abortion in the Michigan constitution garnered enough signatures to appear on the November ballot for voters.

The proposed amendment states,

"Every individual has a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which entails the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care. An individual's right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, burdened, nor infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means. Notwithstanding the above, the state may regulate the provision of abortion care after fetal viability, provided that in no circumstance shall the state prohibit an abortion that, in the professional judgment of an attending health care professional, is medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual."

The amendment goes on to say that the state's interest in regulating abortion is not "compelling" if it infringes on a woman's "autonomous decision-making." With that statement, along with the idea that abortion is protected when it is determined to protect the "mental health" of the mother, it is difficult to imagine any action the state could make to regulate abortion at all.

Abortion became illegal in Michigan after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, however, is refusing to enforce state law.

If ratified into the Michigan constitution, this amendment would nullify most or all pro-life laws. These include informed consent, parental consent, a 24-hour waiting period, a partial-birth abortion ban, born-alive infant protections, conscience protections for doctors, and more.

Click here to read more.

Nancy Pelosi Pushes Democrats to Pass WHPA, Abolish Filibuster

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sent an open letter to her colleagues on Monday regarding the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She listed several actions she believes pro-abortion legislators should take to promote abortion; including abolishing the filibuster and passing the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA).

In her letter, Pelosi writes, 

"While this extremist Supreme Court works to punish and control the American people, Democrats must continue our fight to expand freedom in America.  Doing so is foundational to our oath of office and our fidelity to the Constitution.

It is clear from how Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the Supreme Court that elections have ramifications.  It is essential that we protect and expand our pro-choice Majorities in the House and Senate in November so that we can eliminate the filibuster so that we can restore women’s fundamental rights – and freedom for every American."

The filibuster prevents legislation in the US Senate from moving to a vote unless 60 Senators approve. Pelosi is hoping that her party might gain a strong enough majority in the Senate to end the filibuster, thereby allowing pro-abortion politicians to pass legislation such as the WHPA with fewer votes. This would have the side-effect of allowing future pro-life majorities to pass legislation more easily as well.

The WHPA has already failed to bypass Senate filibusters twice. This legislation would create a federal right to abortion and prevent states from enforcing a variety of pro-life laws. The restrictions it would place on states are even more strict than those placed by Roe v. Wade.

Click here to read more.

HHS Secretary Becerra Announces Policies to Strengthen Abortion

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra
photo credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr

In a press release on Tuesday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced five steps that his department is taking to increase access to abortion in response to the US Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Those steps include the following:

• Increasing access to abortion drugs by ensuring that federally-supported programs comply with law requiring them to provide abortion drugs in cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life

• Ensuring privacy and nondiscrimination for abortionists and women seeking abortion

• Supporting doctors' "clinical judgment" when treating pregnant women "and reaffirming that abortion care can be appropriate to stabilize patients" under the Emergency Medical Treatment Act

• Ensuring all healthcare providers have training and resources to commit abortions or refer patients for abortion

• Directing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) "to take every legally available step" to protect abortion and contraception. This includes "[making] clear that family planning providers are able to participate in the Medicaid program."

It is worth noting that abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of a mother. In situations where the woman's life is in jeopardy, doctors can end pregnancy via preterm delivery (which is also faster than abortion). Preterm delivery may result in a child's death, but it does not intentionally kill the child. It also gives the child a chance to live. The youngest preterm children have survived at 21 weeks gestation. As medical knowledge advances, it is likely that even younger children will survive birth.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Becerra was asked if the federal government could put abortion clinics on federal land to bypass state laws or help women travel to different states to get abortions. He responded that "every option is on the table."

Becerra's press release included an anecdote noting the extreme difference in abortion's legality throughout the midwest.

"I was at a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday morning when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. I saw in real time the impact of this unconscionable decision. The Clinic Director had to almost immediately start turning away patients as the state’s ban went into effect. This clinic has stopped providing safe and legal abortion care. People in the room were visibly shaken, there were tears and an unshakeable sense of sadness.

After my visit to the clinic in St. Louis, I traveled across the state line to another clinic in Fairview Heights, Illinois – a state that, unlike Missouri, still had lawful abortion care. There, I visited a site that helps patients get care by providing assistance – ranging from helping patients find appointments to paying for their travel expenses –and abortion care. It was shocking that, in the United States of America, a short drive can make such a dire and draconian difference in health care outcomes. I saw restrictions that leave women and families on unequal footing and widen maternal health disparities."

Click here to read more.

Biden Calls on Congress to Codify a Right to Abortion

Following the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturning Roe v. Wade, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass legislation codifying abortion rights into federal law.

The Supreme Court's ruling allows states, through their elected representatives, to decide for themselves how to deal with the issue of abortion.

“This decision is the culmination of a deliberate effort over decades to upset the balance of our law,” Biden said at a press conference on June 24. “The court has done what it has never done before, expressly take away a constitutional right that is so fundamental to so many Americans and had already been recognized. The court's decision to do so will have real and immediate consequences.”

Biden told the press that the only way to “secure a women’s right to choose” is for Congress to pass legislation creating a right to abortion. Notably, he added, "executive action can't do that."

The president did say that he would use his power to fight any attempts by state or local officials that would interfere with a woman's ability to travel to pro-abortion states for abortion. He also said that he directed the HHS to "take steps" to ensure mifepristone, the first drug in the abortion pill regimen, is "available to the fullest extent possible."

Finally, Biden condemned pro-abortion violence in response to the court's decision. “I call on everyone no matter how deeply they care about this decision to keep all protests peaceful. Peaceful. Peaceful. Peaceful. No intimidation. Violence is never acceptable. Threats and intimidation are not speech. We must stand against violence in any form regardless of your rationale,” he said.

Click here to read more.

Pritzker Announces Plan to Call Special Session for Abortion Legislation

In response to the Supreme Court's decision last week to overturn Roe v. Wade, Gov. JB Pritzker announced that he will call a special session to discuss abortion legislation.

On June 24, Gov. Pritzker's office responded to the decision by putting out three separate press releases. All of them affirmed the governor's stance that abortion is necessary health care rather than a violent act toward an innocent child. He accused pro-life advocates of causing the deaths of women who attempt illegal abortions, touted his pro-abortion policies, and announced plans to further encourage abortion through new legislation in an upcoming special session.

"Let me make this explicit and clear to women throughout our state, the Midwest, and our nation: Illinois will be a safe haven for the exercise of your reproductive rights," Pritzker said. "In Illinois, Roe v. Wade is still the law, and it will remain the law as long as we have a pro-choice legislature and a pro-choice governor. Here, we trust you to make your own decisions about your reproductive health. We will defend your right to bodily autonomy."

"To that end, I am informing the General Assembly that I will be calling them into special session in the coming weeks to more firmly protect women’s reproductive rights in Illinois and address the challenges posed by this radical Supreme Court decision. I’m grateful to have the support and partnership of House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon in this effort. Together, the Democratic leadership in Illinois is committed to taking swift action to further enshrine our commitment to reproductive healthcare."

At the time of writing, it has not been announced what legislation the General Assembly will consider during the special session. The IFRL will let our readers know about pro-abortion legislation. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter by entering your name and email in the blue box on the right side of this webpage. You will need to be on the desktop version of the website to do so. If you are on mobile, tap "view web version" near the bottom of the screen.

Roe v. Wade Overturned!

Roe v. Wade has been overturned!

The Supreme Court released its long-awaited decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Friday morning. The decision overturns Roe v. Wade, thereby returning the issue of abortion back to the states and the democratic process.

For the first time since 1973, states, through their elected representatives, will have the power to protect the lives of the unborn from being killed through abortion.

The entire decision, written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, can be read here.

This case challenged Mississippi's 2018 law prohibiting abortion after 15 weeks of gestation. While it was initially struck down by lower courts, Mississippi took the opportunity to argue for the complete overturn of the Supreme Court's abortion precedent. Today, their efforts succeeded. The lives of millions might be saved as a result.

In the decision, Alito writes, “There is nothing in the Constitution about abortion, and the Constitution does not implicitly protect the right. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives."

Legal abortion will continue in states, such as Illinois, that do not pass laws protecting the unborn. The pro-life movement is not over, but overturning Roe is a significant step that will save lives.

Louisiana Gov. Signs Pro-Life Bills into Law

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D)

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed two bills on June 21 to protect the unborn. Louisiana Senate Bill 342 updates the state's trigger law to create criminal penalties for abortionists, and Louisiana Senate Bill 388 makes it illegal to deliver abortion pills through the mail.

Louisiana's trigger law would outlaw abortion if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. In addition to creating criminal penalties for abortionists who violate the law, Senate Bill 342 defines conception in Louisiana law as occurring at implantation instead of fertilization. This means that Louisiana law would allow "emergency contraception" to remain legal. Emergency contraception can end the life of a child after fertilization; but before the child has been implanted in her mother's womb.

Senate Bill 388 outlaws the mail delivery of abortion pills. This mirrors FDA policy that required women to receive abortion pills during in-person visits with a medical professional. The Biden administration "temporarily" lifted those regulations in April 2021. As many suspected, those changes became permanent soon afterward.

Click here to read more.

US Senators Announce Pro-life Legislation

On June 15, US Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Steve Daines (R-Mt) announced the Family Security Act 2.0. This updated version of the Family Security Act consolidates existing federal spending into a new benefit program.

According to a press release by Romney's office, the legislation "would modernize antiquated federal policies into a fully paid-for, cash benefit for working families starting during pregnancy, amounting to $350 a month for each young child, and $250 a month for each school-aged child."

"As the modern economy seems to discount the merits of raising children, federal family policy remains scattered across the tax code and dozens of different programs," the press release explains. "Each year, an average working family has to wait until tax season rolls around to pay a tax preparer a few hundred dollars in order to find out how much of the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit they will receive. Our country should make transparent investments in American families that leave the family in charge, not federal bureaucrats."

The press release also includes a statement from National Right to Life:

“National Right to Life applauds Sens. Mitt Romney, Richard Burr, and Steve Daines for their work on the Family Security Act 2.0. The plan would permit pregnant mothers to receive a monthly payment starting several months prior to a child’s due date. This life-affirming provision not only empowers mothers, but acknowledges that life begins before birth. This funding would directly support mothers and their unborn children to help prepare for the arrival of the baby.”

The senators released an explainer of how the new benefit program would work if the Family Security Act 2.0 is passed into law. That can be found here.

March for Life Chicago Condemns Pritzker's Campaign to Make Illinois an Abortion Destination

March for Life Chicago called out Gov. J.B Pritzker for his recent comments indicating that he intends to make Illinois a destination for midwesterners seeking abortion; especially if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in its upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson ruling.

“Governor Pritzker, do you really think out-of-state families want an Illinois tourism guide with a cover that reads: Welcome to the abortion capital of the Midwest?” responded March for Life Chicago Director Kevin Grillot. “Take a look at neighboring states and you will see that the Midwest is not a place for abortions, but a place for families.”

Pritzker signed a bill into law last year that repealed Illinois's only pro-life policy. The Parental Notice of Abortion Act required abortion businesses to notify the parents of a minor who schedules an abortion. That law went into effect June 1, 2022.

“As dedicated life advocates continue to win entire states, it will not be long before the Midwest pro-life movement is concentrated on Illinois. When that time comes, Governor Pritzker, what do you think the 78% of Illinois residents in favor of parental notification of abortion will do when they learn you repealed their parental rights?” Grillot continued.

“It’s about saving Midwestern lives, those of women and their children,” Grillot said. “We invite all Midwesterners to stand for life, especially following the release of the United States Supreme Court Dobbs decision which could overturn Roe v. Wade.”

“One opportunity for the people of Illinois and around the Midwest to affirm life is our upcoming Dobbs Life Rally and March on Saturday, July 9, 2022,” shared Grillot. That event is at 2 p.m. on Chicago’s Federal Plaza (50 West Adams).

Click here to read more.

Guttmacher Report Shows Abortion Spike in 2020

The Guttmacher Institute released a new report on June 15 showing that the abortion rate increased by nearly 8% in 2020 compared to 2017. Until then, the abortion rate had been decreasing for 27 years.

930,160 unborn babies were aborted in 2020. Guttmacher's 2017 figure was 862,320. Roughly one in five unborn children in America (20.6%) were killed through abortion in 2020.

Regarding Illinois specifically, the report says,

"Abortion incidence increased 25% between 2017 and 2020, with almost all of the increase (24%) occurring between 2017 and 2019. Some of this was due to more people coming from surrounding states like Missouri, but abortion also increased substantially among Illinois residents. One likely contributing factor is that Illinois allowed the use of state Medicaid funds to pay for abortion care starting in January 2018. Another factor is Illinois had more abortion clinics in 2020 than in 2017 (30 and 25, respectively) and this also may have made abortion more accessible."

The report hypothesizes that the nationwide increases are the result of state laws expanding Medicaid funding, requiring private insurance to cover abortion, and allowing less qualified physicians to commit abortions. "Charitable" abortion funds paid for more abortions, and some states repealed pro-life laws during this period.

The Guttmacher Institute's reports are often considered to be more useful than numbers released by the US government. The institute is a pro-abortion organization that used to be directly affiliated with Planned Parenthood, but it has access to information that the US government does not. Many states do not require abortion businesses to report to them. Most notably, California, Maryland, and New Hampshire refuse to provide data for the CDC's abortion surveillance report.

Click here to read more.

Iowa Supreme Court Rules There is No Right to Abortion in State Constitution

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a decision on June 17 ruling that the state's constitution does not include a fundamental right to abortion. The decision reinstates a 72-hour waiting period law, and it returns a 24-hour waiting period law to the district court.

Justice Edward M. Mansfield wrote the majority opinion for this case. He wrote that the Iowa Supreme Court's 2018 ruling establishing a right to abortion “insufficiently recognizes that future human lives are at stake and we must disagree with the views of today’s dissent that ‘[t]he state does not have a legitimate interest in protecting potential life before viability.'”

Mansfield also wrote about the often pro-abortion interpretations of stare decisis and "living" constitutions.

"PPH II [the 2018 decision] was overtly based on the notion of a “living” constitution…. To the extent PPH II viewed constitutional interpretation as an evolutionary process rather than a search for fixed meaning, it is hard now to argue that the evolutionary process had to end as soon as PPH II was decided. Does the Iowa Constitution get to “live” until 2018, at which point it must stop living?"

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released a statement on Twitter applauding the court's ruling. “Today’s ruling is a significant victory in our fight to protect the unborn. The Iowa Supreme Court reversed its earlier 2018 decision, which made Iowa the most abortion-friendly state in the country. Every life is sacred and should be protected, and as long as I’m governor that is exactly what I will do.”

Click here to read more.

Investigators: Suspect in Kavanaugh Assassination Attempt Called 911 Himself after Conversation with Sister

California man Nicholas Roske was arrested last week near US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home for an alleged assassination plot to kill the justice. According to police, Roske texted his sister after arriving in a taxi near Kavanaugh's home. She convinced him to call 911.

"The suspect arrived by taxi and observed the U.S. marshals, and he turned around to contemplate his next move," Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said in a statement to the Washington Post. "This is when he texted his sister and told her of his intentions, and she convinced him to call 911, which he did."

The audio from Roske's 911 call is available here.

In the 15-minute phone call, Roske told the operator, "I need psychiatric help."

Roske told police that he was upset with the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. He was also angry about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and he told police that he believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws.

When Roske was arrested, he was carrying a bag with a gun, ammunition, a knife, pepper spray, a screwdriver, zip ties, and other gear.

Click here to read more.

National Right to Life Committee Proposes Model Post-Roe State Law to Protect Unborn

NRLC President Carol Tobias

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) on June 15 proposed a model law that states could use to protect the lives of unborn children if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. 

“For decades, National Right to Life and its state affiliates have led the effort to pass life-affirming laws at the state level that protect unborn children and their mothers – efforts that have drastically reduced the number of abortions and brought us to this moment in our nation’s history,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “With this model law, we are laying out a roadmap for the right-to-life movement so that, in a post-Roe society, we can protect many mothers and their children from the tragedy of abortion.”

The US Supreme Court's upcoming decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization has the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade and return the issue of abortion back to state legislators and the democratic process. If this happens, states could use the NRLC model to draft laws protecting the unborn.

Under the NRLC's model law, abortion would be prohibited except when necessary to prevent the death of the mother. Violations include committing an abortion, aiding and abetting an illegal abortion, trafficking in abortion drugs, and trafficking minors to obtain illegal abortions. The model law also ensures that the mother of the unborn child cannot face criminal penalties.

Local prosecutors and states' attorneys general would be able to enforce this law, but individuals could also file civil lawsuits against those who violate the law. Potential penalties include licensing revocation, compensatory damages to any plaintiff who has suffered from the abortion, punitive damages payable to pregnancy centers, and reasonable attorney's fees.

“In the event Roe v. Wade is overturned, states will have a significant opportunity to protect the unborn,” said James Bopp, Jr., general counsel for National Right to Life. “In doing so, it is important that such states not only prohibit illegal abortions, but also employ a robust enforcement regime, so that these laws are sure to be enforced.” He continued, “Our model law does just that. It builds on the substantial experience the right-to-life movement has had in developing pro-life legislation and we believe it presents the best opportunity to protect the unborn.”

Click here to read the text of the model law.

NY Gov. Signs Six Pro-Abortion Bills

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed six pro-life bills on June 13 that protect abortionists and punish pro-life advocates.

"Today, we are taking action to protect our service providers from the retaliatory actions of anti-abortion states and ensure that New York will always be a safe harbor for those seeking reproductive healthcare," Gov. Hochul said in a press release. "New York has always been a beacon for those yearning to be free. And I want the world to hear — loud and clear — that will not change."

The bills that Gov. Hochul signed into law are as follows:

S. 9039A creates a right to sue any person who attempts to stop or interfere with an abortion. According to Hochul's press release, "This will allow individuals to bring a claim against someone who has sued them or brought charges against them for facilitating, aiding, or obtaining reproductive health or endocrine care services in accordance with New York State Law."

S. 9077A prohibits New York law enforcement from cooperating with pro-life states during investigations of abortions that are considered legal in New York. Additionally, the law protects abortionists from being extradited to other states for abortion-related crimes.

S. 9079B prohibits "professional misconduct charges" against abortionists who commit or recommend abortions for women who reside in states where abortion is illegal.

S. 9080B prohibits medical malpractice insurance companies from “taking any adverse action” against an abortionist who commits an abortion for a woman from out of state.

S. 9384A allows abortionists to participate in New York's "address confidentiality program," for safety reasons.

S. 470 creates a task force to examine "the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant people in New York." This task force will also study pro-life pregnancy centers; opening the door to future government action that would punish them for providing "limited services."

Click here to read more.

California State Lawmakers Introduce Amendment to Create a State Right to Abortion

California lawmakers announced on June 12 that they are introducing an amendment that would create a right to abortion in the state's constitution.

As introduced by pro-abortion legislators, the amendment would “prohibit the state from denying or interfering with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion.”

If California legislators approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority in both houses, the amendment will be brought to November 2022 ballot for voters to approve.

This comes after Gov. Newsom announced that $125 million in state funding would pay for abortions, offer monetary incentives for abortionists, and pay for abortionists to move to California.

Click here to read more.

President Biden Considering Executive Orders to Strengthen Abortion if Roe is Overturned

President Joe Biden
Screenshot from Jimmy Kimmel Live via YouTube

On Wednesday, June 8, President Joe Biden said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" that he is considering executive actions that would minimize the life-saving impact of a potential Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

"I think if the court overrules Roe v. Wade,... we have to legislate it. We have to make sure we pass legislation making it a law..."

He went on to repeat his false claim that the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court would affect precedent in other issues such as same-sex marriage. He referenced Connecticut v. Griswold as a precedent that would be overturned if the Supreme Court moved forward with the draft. That decision ruled that the Constitution protected the liberty of couples to buy and use contraceptives.

The leaked draft opinion explicitly states that it does not undermine any rulings that are not related to abortion. Biden and pro-abortion advocates often repeat this deceptive argument.

"And you know, there's a whole range of things that are at stake here when we talk about eliminating Roe v. Wade," Biden said. "It's just ridiculous in my view. And I don't think the country will stand for it, but I think what we're gonna have to do are some executive orders... We're looking at that right now."

"Look," Biden continued. "It's clear that if in fact... these states impose the limitations they're talking about, it's gonna cause a mini-revolution. They're gonna vote a lot of these folks out of office."

Pro-abortion politicians and organizations have suggested a variety of executive actions that President Biden may or may not use. Examples include:

• Eliminating FDA restrictions on abortion drugs
• Creating travel vouchers that would use federal tax dollars to pay the expenses of women who must travel to get abortions
• Allowing abortionists to work on the federally-owned property in pro-life states

Click here to read more.

Wisconsin Gov. Calls Special Session to Repeal State Abortion Ban

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D)

On Wednesday, June 8, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evans (D) signed an executive order calling a special legislative session to attempt to repeal the state's 1849 abortion ban. This comes as many expect the Supreme Court to override Roe v. Wade in its upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson decision. This would send the issue of abortion back to the states; allowing them to enforce laws like Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban.

The special session is set to take place at noon on June 22. In a statement, Gov. Evers said, A decision by Supreme Court to overturn Roe and decades of well-established precedent could have disastrous consequences for folks in every corner of our country.”

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R), in his own statement, said, “Killing innocent babies is not healthcare. We will gavel out of another blatantly political special session.” Republicans hold majorities in both of Wisconsin's legislative bodies.

“We are disappointed but not surprised by Governor Evers’ disregard for the lives of preborn children in Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Right to Life’s legislative director, Gracie Skogman. “We urge our state legislators to protect Statute 940.04. Wisconsin Right to Life will continue to advocate for the right to life for all, to ensure that our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to be born and live in a state that defends life.”

Much like Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D), Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has stated that he will not enforce his state's abortion ban if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

Click here to read more.

Armed Man Arrested Near Justice Kavanaugh's Home for Alleged Assassination Plot

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

A California man was arrested near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home in Maryland at about 1:50 a.m. on June 8th. After his arrest, he reportedly told authorities that he was there to kill the justice. Initial reports indicate that he was motivated by the leaked draft opinion by the Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade.

MSNBC reporter Pete Williams said that the man carried a gun, knife, pepper spray, and burglary tools. The man arrived near Kavanaugh's home by taxi, but he was taken into police custody before he was able to get near the justice's home.

Washington Post reporters Devlin Barrett, Dan Morse, and Ellie Silverman wrote, “Two people familiar with the investigation said the initial evidence indicates that the man was angry about the leaked draft of an opinion by the Supreme Court signaling that the court is preparing to overturn Roe. v. Wade, the 49-year-old decision that guaranteed the constitutional right to have an abortion.”

The Washington Post further reported that, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the investigation, the police received a tip notifying them about the alleged assailant.

Click here to read more.

Michigan Legislature Asks Court for Permission to Intervene in Lawsuit Against 1931 Abortion Law

On June 6, the Michigan legislature asked if it could be allowed to intervene in Planned Parenthood's lawsuit against the state's 1931 law banning abortion. This comes after the court issued a preliminary injunction that would prohibit the 1931 law from being enforced if Roe v. Wade is overturned before the Michigan lawsuit is settled.

The law has not been enforced for decades due to the US Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade. However, the recently leaked draft opinion from the US Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson would overturn Roe's precedent. This would allow states to once again enforce laws limiting or banning abortion.

Michigan legislators are requesting to defend the law because Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) are both taking the side of Planned Parenthood. Whitmer's administration has filed its own lawsuit with the same goal, and Nessel has stated that she would not enforce the abortion ban even if it did go into effect. This means that both sides of Planned Parenthood's lawsuit challenging the 1931 abortion ban are arguing for the same outcome.

“The Legislature’s motion to intervene is timely, coming just weeks after the court entered the (preliminary injunction) order,” the House and Senate said in a court filing. “There is no question that the Legislature has strong interests in ensuring that constitutional challenges to Michigan statutes present an actual controversy suitable for judicial resolution and, when necessary, in defending justiciable challenges. No existing party will adequately represent those interests here.”

Pro-life advocates are also concerned that the case is being considered by Michigan Judge Elizabeth Gleicher. Gleicher argued on behalf of Planned Parenthood in 1997 that the state constitution contained an implied right to abortion. The court ruled against Planned Parenthood at that time, but Planned Parenthood is attempting to make a similar argument now (albeit from a different angle).

Click here to read more.

Pro-Life Legislators Ask HHS to Investigate Fetal Tissue Research at University of Pittsburgh

Pro-life legislators from the US House and Senate have called on HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm to investigate allegations that the University of Pittsburgh violated federal law with its federally funded fetal tissue research program.

On May 24, legislators sent a letter to Grimm expressing concern that the University of Pittsburgh illegally altered abortion procedures to obtain intact body parts. The letter reiterates concerns from pro-life advocates that the university may have even harvested organs from children who were born alive and later killed after attempted abortions.

“If the babies are born alive after surviving an abortion, are the university and its recipients and subrecipients of HHS funding reducing ‘warm ischemia time’ by keeping the babies alive until their organs or tissues have been harvested to provide blood flow to the organ or tissue for as long as possible?” the letter reads. “If infanticide by organ or tissue harvesting is occurring, it is a crime under Pennsylvania state law. It is also a violation of federal regulation, which requires, among other things, that ‘there will be no added risk to the neonate resulting from the research.'”

The legislators previously asked Attorney General Merrick Garland, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, and NIH Director Francis Collins to investigate back in September 2021, but nothing was done. Lawmakers criticized the administration for its lack of action in its letter last month: “Rather than conduct an independent evaluation of its own, NIH chose to accept and endorse a report that had been paid for by the institution it had been asked to investigate.”

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US Treasury Secretary Testifies that Abortion Boosts the Economy

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told a US Senate committee last month that legal abortion is justified. She argued that benefited the economy by allowing more women to enter the workforce.

Yellen testified during the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s report to the Senate Banking Committee. During that report, pro-abortion politicians took the opportunity to turn the discussion away from economic topics and toward the issue of abortion.

When Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) asked Yellen what impact the overturn of Roe v. Wade would have on the economy, she responded:

“I believe that eliminating the right of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades. Roe v. Wade and access to reproductive health care, including abortion, helped lead to increased labor force participation. It enabled many women to finish school that increased their earning potential. It allowed women to plan and balance their families and careers, and research also shows it had a favorable impact on the well-being and earnings of children.”

She continued by arguing that young, low-income, black women will be unable to get the education necessary to participate in the workforce unless they have abortions. She further argued that the children of these mothers will grow up in poverty themselves (implying that they would be better off aborted).

Killing the children of poor mothers, black or otherwise, is not an ethical solution to the issue of poverty. It should go without saying that children's lives have value regardless of their parents' financial positions.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who was born to a single-parent black household, pushed back against Yellen's arguments both during the hearing and afterward in an op-ed for the Washington Post.

“There are voices today who would tell you that our lives were hopeless,” he wrote. “That a life like the one we had as a family was not a life worth living, and that the United States would be better off if people like us didn’t exist at all.”

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Michigan Gov. Orders State Agencies to Protect Abortionists from Investigations

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D)

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) issued an executive order on May 25 barring Michigan state agencies from cooperating with authorities from other states that are investigating abortion-related crimes.

Additionally, the order requires state agencies to "identify and assess potential opportunities to increase protections for reproductive health care."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a statement applauding Whitmer's order.

“It is incumbent upon those of us who hold public office to exercise the full authority of our positions to extend support and protection for women in our state — and our country,” Nessel said. “That is why I have made clear that I will not use the resources of my office to enforce or defend Michigan’s 1931 statute criminalizing abortion. I refuse to put millions of Michigan women at risk by restricting their access to safe abortions.”

Michigan's 1931 ban was recently suspended by Judge Elizabeth Gleicher. She did not recuse herself, despite the fact that she argued against the same law on behalf of Planned Parenthood in 1997.

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ACLU Challenges Florida's 15-Week Abortion Ban

The ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit on June 1 to challenge Florida's new law banning abortions after the 15th week of development. Unless a judge issues an injunction, Florida's law will go into effect on July 1.

The ACLU lawsuit, filed on behalf of several abortion businesses throughout Florida, argues that Florida's "Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act" violates Florida's Constitution's privacy clause.

Florida's law includes exceptions for severe fetal anomalies, to save the life of the mother, or to prevent serious physical impairment to the mother's body.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law on April 14th. He said at the time, “This will represent the most significant protections for life that we have seen in a generation.”

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Planned Parenthood Sues to Block Oklahoma Abortion Law

photo credit: American Life League / Flickr

Shortly after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a new law banning most abortions, pro-abortion organizations announced that they are filing a lawsuit to block the law from going into effect.

Oklahoma HB 4327 prohibits most abortions from the moment of fertilization. Barring exceptions for rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger, abortion would be illegal in the state of Oklahoma. Much Texas's Heartbeat Act, the law empowers private citizens to sue abortionists who kill protected children.

“For anyone seeking abortion in Oklahoma and beyond: Planned Parenthood and our partners are fighting for you,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement when the bill was signed. “We will bring everything we have to make sure you can get the care you need, and challenge every ban enacted in Oklahoma.”

The challenge to Oklahoma HB 4327 will be added to the ongoing case against Oklahoma's "heartbeat act." That case is pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

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Illinois Parental Notice Repeal Became Effective June 1

The repeal of Illinois's Parental Notice of Abortion Act, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in December, became effective on June 1. Abortion businesses are no longer required to notify the parents of a minor seeking abortion.

“Illinois is now the only state in the Midwest that does not have Parental Notification in place, an open invitation to out-of-state minors to pursue abortions in Illinois,” Kevin Grillot, Executive Director of the March for Life Chicago, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Parental Notice of Abortion Act was passed in 1995. It wasn't enforced until 2013 due to a lawsuit from pro-abortion groups. The law simply required abortion businesses to notify the parents or guardians of minors seeking an abortion. This notification had to happen at least 48 hours before the scheduled abortion. The law did not require the parents' permission. Additionally, minors could get approval from a judge to bypass the parental notification requirement.

The Parental Notice of Abortion Act gave parents the opportunity to speak with their daughters about the decision, and it provided an avenue by which sex traffickers could be caught. Without the notification requirement, sex traffickers who harm minors can use abortion businesses to hide their crimes.

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