Statements from Maryland Politicians on SCOTUS Abortion Decision
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Attorney General Frosh Issues Statement Following Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
BALTIMORE, MD (June 24, 2022) – Attorney General Brian E. Frosh’s statement following today’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:
“Today’s decision strips away the fundamental right of women to control their own bodies. Including in its sweep even survivors of abuse, rape, and incest, it robs all women of autonomy to make the most personal decisions about their health care. Its harms will have disproportionate impact on women of color and those of low income, many of whom already lack meaningful access to affordable health care of any kind. And even more broadly, this decision overturning 50 years of precedent also threatens the rights of all Americans to make private decisions about their lives without government interference.
“I am proud of my vote over 30 years ago to codify Roe v. Wade in state law, and I am proud of the work that our office has done since to protect and expand access to reproductive health care services across Maryland. We will continue to champion the rights of women to make their own health care decisions and to safeguard the right to privacy for all Marylanders.”
BALTIMORE, MD (June 24, 2022) – Attorney General Brian E. Frosh’s statement following today’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:
“Today’s decision strips away the fundamental right of women to control their own bodies. Including in its sweep even survivors of abuse, rape, and incest, it robs all women of autonomy to make the most personal decisions about their health care. Its harms will have disproportionate impact on women of color and those of low income, many of whom already lack meaningful access to affordable health care of any kind. And even more broadly, this decision overturning 50 years of precedent also threatens the rights of all Americans to make private decisions about their lives without government interference.
“I am proud of my vote over 30 years ago to codify Roe v. Wade in state law, and I am proud of the work that our office has done since to protect and expand access to reproductive health care services across Maryland. We will continue to champion the rights of women to make their own health care decisions and to safeguard the right to privacy for all Marylanders.”
Attorney General Frosh, National Coalition of Attorneys General Issue Joint Statement Reaffirming Commitment to Protecting Access to Abortion Care
Despite U.S. Supreme Court Decision, National Coalition of 22 Attorneys General Emphasize that Abortion Remains Safe and Legal in States Across the Country
BALTIMORE, MD (June 27, 2022) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and a national coalition of 22 attorneys general today issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, access to safe and legal abortion remains robustly protected in numerous states across the country, including in Maryland and the coalition states. As highlighted by the multistate coalition’s efforts in the amicus brief led by California in Dobbs, the coalition of attorneys general will continue to fight to support the rights of pregnant people nationwide.
“Abortion care is healthcare. Period. We stand together, as our states’ chief law officers, to proudly say that we will not back down in the fight to protect the rights of pregnant people in our states and across the country. While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision reverses nearly half a century of legal precedent and undermines the rights of people across the United States, we’re joining together to reaffirm our commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care nationwide.
“While this is a perilous moment for our nation, it is a moment that calls for action. Our promise to our residents is simple: We’ll never stop defending your rights. Regardless of the decision in Dobbs, broad access to abortion remains protected in states that recognize reproductive freedom, such as ours. We refuse to go back to the days of politicians trying to tell people what to do with their bodies. When it comes to abortion care, it’s your body and your right to choose. Nobody else gets to make those decisions.
“For generations, Americans have relied on the existence of a constitutional right to abortion to make deeply personal decisions about their lives, their futures, and their families. As a result of the decision in Dobbs, people across the nation are now confronted with the prospect of having to travel from their homes to our states to seek access to the fundamental healthcare to which they should be entitled. For those unable to make the journey, laws banning abortion in their home states will lead to poorer health outcomes and reduced socioeconomic opportunities. Those harms will fall disproportionately on people of color and people with fewer resources, further perpetuating our nation’s historical inequities.
“Ultimately, what harms people in some states harms us all. The future and well-being of our nation is intrinsically tied to the ability of our residents to exercise their fundamental rights, including the right to liberty, privacy, and access to abortion care. If you seek access to abortion and reproductive healthcare, we’re committed to using the full force of the law to support you. You have our word. We will continue to use all legal tools at our disposal to fight for your rights and stand up for our laws. We will support our partners and service providers. Together, we will persist.”
In issuing today’s statement, Attorney General Frosh joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
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Despite U.S. Supreme Court Decision, National Coalition of 22 Attorneys General Emphasize that Abortion Remains Safe and Legal in States Across the Country
BALTIMORE, MD (June 27, 2022) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and a national coalition of 22 attorneys general today issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, access to safe and legal abortion remains robustly protected in numerous states across the country, including in Maryland and the coalition states. As highlighted by the multistate coalition’s efforts in the amicus brief led by California in Dobbs, the coalition of attorneys general will continue to fight to support the rights of pregnant people nationwide.
“Abortion care is healthcare. Period. We stand together, as our states’ chief law officers, to proudly say that we will not back down in the fight to protect the rights of pregnant people in our states and across the country. While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision reverses nearly half a century of legal precedent and undermines the rights of people across the United States, we’re joining together to reaffirm our commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care nationwide.
“While this is a perilous moment for our nation, it is a moment that calls for action. Our promise to our residents is simple: We’ll never stop defending your rights. Regardless of the decision in Dobbs, broad access to abortion remains protected in states that recognize reproductive freedom, such as ours. We refuse to go back to the days of politicians trying to tell people what to do with their bodies. When it comes to abortion care, it’s your body and your right to choose. Nobody else gets to make those decisions.
“For generations, Americans have relied on the existence of a constitutional right to abortion to make deeply personal decisions about their lives, their futures, and their families. As a result of the decision in Dobbs, people across the nation are now confronted with the prospect of having to travel from their homes to our states to seek access to the fundamental healthcare to which they should be entitled. For those unable to make the journey, laws banning abortion in their home states will lead to poorer health outcomes and reduced socioeconomic opportunities. Those harms will fall disproportionately on people of color and people with fewer resources, further perpetuating our nation’s historical inequities.
“Ultimately, what harms people in some states harms us all. The future and well-being of our nation is intrinsically tied to the ability of our residents to exercise their fundamental rights, including the right to liberty, privacy, and access to abortion care. If you seek access to abortion and reproductive healthcare, we’re committed to using the full force of the law to support you. You have our word. We will continue to use all legal tools at our disposal to fight for your rights and stand up for our laws. We will support our partners and service providers. Together, we will persist.”
In issuing today’s statement, Attorney General Frosh joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
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STENY HOYER: Americans Oppose the Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade, Support Access to Reproductive Care
The Supreme Court’s drastic, dangerous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade upends nearly five decades of settled law and impacts the rights of millions of vulnerable Americans. Already, “trigger laws” that immediately banned access to abortion care have taken effect in over a dozen states, with an expected cascade of anti-choice legislation likely to follow in states across the country. Recent polling clearly shows that a bipartisan majority of Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and criminalize abortion:
A NPR/PBS Newshourpoll released on June 27 reported that 56% of Americans opposed the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, with 45% of Americans strongly opposing the decision.
- 53% of Independents opposed the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade
- 52% of respondents agreed that overturning Roe v. Wade was a “step backwards for America”
- 64% of respondents believed that access to abortion should be legal
- 58% of respondents favored a federal law making abortion legal nationwide
- More than 6 in 10 Americans believe overturning Roe is a “bad thing”
- 68% of respondents did not want to see the Court completely overturn Roe
- 58% of Americans support Congress passing a federal law making abortion legal nationwide.
- 83% of Americans believe the full range of reproductive health care should be available.
- Nearly 60% of voters would support Congressional legislation establishing a nationwide right to reproductive health care, with 37% in strong support.
- 56% of Americans see abortion care as a constitutional right that women should have some access to regardless of where they live.
- 58% of likely voters believe that Roe v. Wade should remain in place compared to just 30% who support its reversal.
- 63% of likely voters reported feeling concerned about how the potential reversal of Roe v. Wade would impact their lives.
Click here to read the PDF.
Hoyer Statement on Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturns Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey:“Today is a dark day for the privacy of everyone in America and the freedom of women to make their own health care decisions. In striking down Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court’s Republican-appointed justices ignored nearly five decades of precedent and clear Constitutional principles.
“The American people know that our Constitution guarantees women’s reproductive freedom, even if these six justices do not. That’s why the House already passed Rep. Judy Chu’s Women’s Health Protection Act, which would enshrine the principles of Roe v. Wade in federal statute. However, Senate Republicans continue to filibuster that bill, rejecting even debate on that measure just a few weeks ago. As Democratic-led states move to implement stronger protections for reproductive choice, I expect many Republican-led states will do the opposite, advancing draconian state laws that criminalize abortion.
“This decision also opens a door to overturning established precedent on many other important rights and freedoms enjoyed by Americans, including contraception access and the right of LGBTQ Americans to marry those they love. No right is safe from this activist group of Republican-appointed justices who see themselves as legislators. We will not rest, we will not yield, we will not waver in our determination to restore the protections that Roe v. Wade offered and that Planned Parenthood v. Casey affirmed.”
Cardin Says History Will Show Dobbs Decision as “One of the Worst Decisions of the Supreme Court”
“Bans, criminalization and bounty hunter laws, especially without exceptions even for rape and incest or the life of the mother, will not stop abortions.
“There should be a common standard protecting the right of self-determination of health decisions for women and individuals, regardless of what state you live in today.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson that overturns the precedents of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Senator Cardin is an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act (S. 1975) that would codify the right to choose in federal law.
“The Supreme Court of the United States is supposed to be the last line of defense, protecting the rights of Americans and guaranteeing equal justice under the law for all. The highest court in the land, defenders of the Constitution, should never be the one deliberately taking away the rights of millions of people, knowing the dire consequences of putting them in the hands of state legislatures. Sadly, this is exactly what has happened this morning. Individuals in more than half the states now are in jeopardy, including 13 states with trigger laws that almost immediately end access to safe, legal abortions. Abortion is a standard part of health care. Bans, criminalization and bounty hunter laws, especially without exceptions even for rape and incest or the life of the mother, will not stop abortions. Abortions will continue in states like Maryland that respect individual privacy rights. Marylanders have already shown willingness to step up and provide access to care for those who cannot access it in their own state, but our medical systems will feel the weight of 26 states with contrary laws. Low-income families and those without the means to leave their homes and travel to other states, particularly including women of color, will be the most burdened.
“Senate Republicans bear responsibility for confirming justices they knew full-well intended to overturn Roe v. Wade, putting the lives of millions of women and girls in such a place where their own government does not trust them to make decisions about their own body and their own future.
“History will show this as one of the worst decisions of the Supreme Court. Congress, the Biden administration and state governments must take action to protect the reproductive and health rights of Americans. There should be a common standard protecting the right of self-determination of health decisions for women and individuals, regardless of what state you live in today.”
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“Bans, criminalization and bounty hunter laws, especially without exceptions even for rape and incest or the life of the mother, will not stop abortions.
“There should be a common standard protecting the right of self-determination of health decisions for women and individuals, regardless of what state you live in today.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson that overturns the precedents of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Senator Cardin is an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act (S. 1975) that would codify the right to choose in federal law.
“The Supreme Court of the United States is supposed to be the last line of defense, protecting the rights of Americans and guaranteeing equal justice under the law for all. The highest court in the land, defenders of the Constitution, should never be the one deliberately taking away the rights of millions of people, knowing the dire consequences of putting them in the hands of state legislatures. Sadly, this is exactly what has happened this morning. Individuals in more than half the states now are in jeopardy, including 13 states with trigger laws that almost immediately end access to safe, legal abortions. Abortion is a standard part of health care. Bans, criminalization and bounty hunter laws, especially without exceptions even for rape and incest or the life of the mother, will not stop abortions. Abortions will continue in states like Maryland that respect individual privacy rights. Marylanders have already shown willingness to step up and provide access to care for those who cannot access it in their own state, but our medical systems will feel the weight of 26 states with contrary laws. Low-income families and those without the means to leave their homes and travel to other states, particularly including women of color, will be the most burdened.
“Senate Republicans bear responsibility for confirming justices they knew full-well intended to overturn Roe v. Wade, putting the lives of millions of women and girls in such a place where their own government does not trust them to make decisions about their own body and their own future.
“History will show this as one of the worst decisions of the Supreme Court. Congress, the Biden administration and state governments must take action to protect the reproductive and health rights of Americans. There should be a common standard protecting the right of self-determination of health decisions for women and individuals, regardless of what state you live in today.”
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Hijinx
Well-Known Member
F you Ben.
Not like it matters. Ben Cardin hasn't done sh*t for Maryland except have his staffers gen out spam emails ranting about the progbot topic of the day and insisting he will "fight" for Marylanders. He is a lazy do-nothing but he will hold that seat for as long as he wants it.
Hijinx
Well-Known Member
You are right. Of course he will as long as the Government employee refugees from S.E. Washington keep voting for democrats. They have taken the suburbs and the Baltimore Corridor, and Guess where the crimes are in Maryland. We are a democrat State that is very similar to a democrat city. Our suburbs are the Maryland ghetto.